The Screaming Woman (1972) Movie Script

It's good to have you back, Mrs. Wynant.

Pablito has really missed

his morning exercise.

Martin, you better have a look

at the furnace in the greenhouse.

It's not working properly.

- The greenhouse, madam?

- There's some cold nights coming.

All right, Mrs. Wynant, I'll see to it.

Oh, and Mr. Howard will take care

of Pablito as soon as he gets back.

Howard, why?

Anna and I are off

to visit my brother in Santa Maria.

You are?

Why, yes, Mrs. Wynant, it's Sunday.

Sunday?

Oh.

Yes.

Sunday.

Good morning, Martin.

Something wrong?

Your mother has completely forgotten

about that oak tree

falling on the greenhouse last year.

Well, you didn't correct her, did ya?

Oh, no, Mr. Howard, I wouldn't do that.

Thank you, Martin.

Thank you.

Where'd you come from?

Better get on home now.

Come on, scat!

No, that's for cats.

What do you say to dogs?

Well, however you got in here,

you can get right out again.

What is it?

Got a bone buried there?

You hungry fella?

All right, come along.

I'm sure there's a bit of roast leftover

from last night's dinner.

Ah, well, if you're going to be difficult.

- Ohh.

- What?

Ohh.

Is...

Is someone there?

Help.

Oh. my God!

Ahh!

Help me.

Ahh!

Martin!

Martin, where are you?

Martin!

Martin, I need you!

Martin!

Howard!

Howard, where are you?

Howard...

Howard!

Howard, where are you?

- Mother, Mother!

- Where are you?

- What in the world is the matter with you?

- Come quickly!

- What happened? Now wait a minute!

- Come, there's a woman!

- Calm down!

- There's a woman... no, no, no!

- Come inside, Mother.

- Come with me!

- Mother, please, Mother, get a hold of yourself!

- There's a woman buried alive out there!

- Come with me, I need your help!

- Mother, Mom, Mother, now calm down!

You know I'm not gonna

like you getting overwrought.

Now please, Mother, please.

Take this, Laura.

Just a little sherry.

Drink it.

There.

Now will you listen to me?

There's a woman buried

in the basement of the smokehouse,

and she's alive.

I know what you're all thinking,

but it's true.

Mother, the smokehouse

was torn down years ago.

Yes, and the basement

filled in with earth.

That's where she's buried.

I see.

She's buried, but she's alive.

Don't you dare patronize me.

All right, mother,

how do you know she's alive?

Because I heard her calling for help.

- From under the ground?

- Yes, yes.

Mother, be reasonable,

if she's alive and she's buried, how can...

Don't stand there talking,

she'll suffocate!

All right, we'll go take a look.

Wait a minute, you know that George

took time off on his Sunday

to come up here especially

to discuss the offer

- from Harrison and Company?

- George, do you believe I'm demented?

Of course not, Laura.

- Will you help me?

- Certainly.

Then, come.

Couldn't be more effective

if you staged it yourself.

- Effective?

- Given old, square George

would have to be on our team

after that display.

He's Mother's friend, Caroline.

And he's also Honest John.

He'd have to testify

to what he saw and heard.

You'd call Mother's attorney

as a witness against her?

Pretty rough on him,

on both of them.

Can't be helped.

Dusty.

Dusty, come here.

Dusty, come here, come on.

Come here, come here.

The little dog was digging right...

Yes, Mother, right where?

I'm certain it was here.

And over there.

I brought help.

Can you hear...?

Where are you?

- Where are you?

- Come along, Mother, let's go home.

- Get away from me.

- Mother, please.

Don't you think I know? You can't wait

to have me declared incompetent.

- Believe me, I don't wanna have to do it.

- Perhaps now you think

you can have me committed

so you can have your way.

Well, I'll fight you, Howard.

I won't have my house torn down,

a thousand tacky shacks

- desecrating this property.

- But, you won't have to do it

- if you just listen to reason!

- Laura, Laura, just because you think

- you heard something, doesn't...

- I did hear it, I did,

- and that little dog was digging right there.

- Oh, Laura.

I brought help, listen.

I brought help.

Where are you?

Oh, please.

Where are you?

- Where are you?

- Oh, come along now, let's go home.

- Come on, Ma, let's take a little nap.

- Oh, please.

- Please, no.

- There we go.

There, everything's fine.

- Oh, please.

- You've got to take it easy, Mother.

- It's your first day out.

- Where are you?

- You should go home and lie down.

- Where are you?

- Doctor said you shouldn't be too excited.

- Where are you?

- Oh, Howard.

- Just take it easy, Mother, come on.

- Where are you?

There's nothing there.

Laura, it's not true what you're thinking.

Here, sit down.

There's nothing wrong with you.

Mother, why don't you just

try and lie back?

Relax for a second.

A sane person doesn't hear voices

and see things that aren't there.

But, an insane one doesn't question.

Well, he sees and hears whatever it is.

Precisely, and I don't, George.

So, either I'm insane, or there really is

a woman buried out there.

Laura, what happened to you

could happen to anyone

after the severe emotional crisis.

Now, feet up.

There.

You've just come through

the most difficult period in your life.

Perhaps I haven't come through it.

Perhaps I've come home too soon.

Because I did hear it.

I did see that dog.

And that's I can do to sit here talking to

you when I know that woman is suffocating.

Oh, please, please, here.

Well, when we're weak and vulnerable,

our imagination can

conjure up some very strange things.

Things that seem very real, indeed.

Dear George.

You don't mean a word you're saying.

Oh, you're just exhausted.

Little nap.

You'll see things quite differently.

Oh, I wish that were true.

But, it isn't, George, it isn't.

Now, look, just relax.

- It isn't.

- There.

Damn that dog!

Shut up!

Shut up, will you shut up?

No, you can't go outside,

you shut up!

Dusty, here.

Here, ya smell it, huh?

Here's mama.

Come on, come on.

Come on, come on, there's mama.

That's right, yeah.

- Hello?

- Carl, I waited up half the night

for your phone call.

Look, I thought we agreed

that you were never to call here.

You agreed you'd call me last night.

Did you tell her?

Yeah, yeah, I told her.

And what happened?

Well, how'd she take it, Carl?

That's a foolish question, isn't it?

What's the matter with you?

Honey, look, I...

Evie, I don't feel like talking right now.

Is she there now?

No, she's... she's gone.

She's... you mean she moved out?

Yeah, she's, uh,

gonna send for her things.

Oh, oh, that's marvelous.

Oh, my poor baby,

it must've been rough on you.

You need to have some tender loving care,

I'm coming right over, okay?

No, uh, no, look, honey, the neighbors.

Evie, please, I mean,

we had a rough thing here last night

and a lot of noise.

So, I think we better just

cool it for a little while, huh?

Well, if, uh, the mountain

won't come to Muhammad,

why don't you come over here?

Honey, I can't!

For one thing,

I have my car down at the shop.

I have to pick it up today.

Look, I'll tell ya, I'll...

I'll call you right away, I promise.

Yeah, okay... oh, uh, Carl, I mean,

well at least tell me, um,

are you free now?

I mean, really free?

Yes, Evie.

That's what I am.

Free.

Oh.

She's asleep.

I'll be getting back to town,

call me if you need me.

George, uh, I'd like to

finish our conversation,

if you've got a moment.

Howard, it's academic.

I agree, it's an excellent offer,

but until your mother decides...

Sir, Mother is... is no longer competent

to make those decisions.

That's an opinion, not a legal fact.

It is a legal fact, sir,

of the past five months,

- Mother's been in a sanatorium.

- Nevertheless.

This is still her property

to do with as she chooses.

Now that she's on the road

to getting well again...

Oh, George, oh, George.

It's one thing to try to fool Mother,

but let's not kid each other.

- I'm no physician...

- Indeed, you're not, and if it's necessary,

we'll get a physician in to testify that she's

no longer able to handle her own affairs!

We, Howard?

Your mother's my client.

I intend to protect her interests.

Well, yes, sir, but isn't it to

her interest to sell off the land?

Her interests the way she sees them.

Oh, oh, I understand.

Oh, yes.

Well, perhaps...

Perhaps I better get an attorney

to protect my interest.

Your privilege,

but you have no legal position

- as long as your mother is alive.

- I do if she's declared mentally incompetent!

Do... you realize what that entails?

Yes, sir, I do.

And you would expose her

to that kind of public humiliation?

I don't wanna have to do it.

Unless you can persuade her

to change her mind.

What do you think I've been trying to do?

George, do you realize we haven't even got

enough money left to maintain this place?

- I know.

- Well, then help me out.

$2 million, George, and we can

keep the house and 3 acres of land!

You tell me, is it logical, is it sane

for her to wanna turn the offer down?

Howard, if you want,

you can tell Harrison

you're considering his offer.

But, try.

Try talking it over again

with your mother in a few days.

Sir, what if she remains adamant?

That's it.

Unless you force

a competency hearing.

Oh.

Oh, boy.

I don't know, I...

I gotta admit that

after what happened today,

the thought of seeing Mother

stripped of all her dignity

in front of a courtroom

full of reporters.

- I'd hate to do that.

- Same old Howard.

I thought you were

finally growing into a man.

What a ridiculous idea.

Help.

Help me.

Help.

Operator.

This is an emergency.

Get me the police.

Yes, ma'am?

I beg your pardon.

Buried?

On your property?

Uh, your name and address, please?

Oh.

Well, yes.

Yes, yes, Mrs. Wynant.

Of course.

Right away.

What are you laughing about?

You're the one

who's gonna have to go out there.

Well, I thought they put her away.

Obviously she's back.

Obviously, but what has she

dreamed up this time?

A woman buried alive on her property.

- Alive, huh?

- And screaming to be dug up.

- Well, who wouldn't?

- Get going.

Ah, come on, Sarge.

Ain't she got nobody on that place

that can wield a shovel?

I guess they're all

Doubting Thomases like you.

You know how many times I've been up there

looking for nonexistent prowlers

and people following that lady?

Harry.

Aw, come on, Sarge.

Why don't you just call her back

and talk to her son or somebody?

You heard me tell her,

"We'll be right out."

Well, where does it say

in the sheriff's manual

that we gotta spend our time

humoring some batty, old lady?

Harry, get going.

Yes, sir,

"Go through the motions, Harry."

And keep that grin off your face

when you get there.

Now she may have slipped her trolley,

but show a little respect.

Yeah, for all the taxes she pays.

No, for all her years,

and if you're lucky,

you may get there one day yourself.

Thanks, Sarge.

Spare me the temperance lecture.

I was just remembering how

you couldn't bear the taste of the stuff

- when we first got married.

- Progress.

Now I can't bear anything else without it.

To you, Howard dear,

for making it all possible,

and to your exquisite

strength of character.

Listen, Caroline, I've told you

from the beginning I've wanted to avoid

a competency hearing and I still do!

Sure, avoid anything unpleasant.

Anything that calls for a decision,

and run from responsibility

as if it were the plague.

Well, if that's your image of me,

you can take whatever satisfaction

you want from your having shaped it.

Oh, no, the putty had hardened

long before I met you.

Well, doesn't that make you

pretty stupid for marrying me?

Indeed.

Why else work so hard

to acquire a taste for this?

There is a simpler solution

to your problems, Caroline.

After you've acquired

some community property.

Well, well, well, there it is.

One point to you for frankness.

Yeah, it's reality, Howard.

Been taking some

cold, silver looks in the mirror.

Barely 30,

and well on the road to being a bag.

And I need to have my money.

It's nice to know our future relationship

won't be complicated by emotion.

Bank on it,

died a lingering death years ago.

Damn.

- Yes, officer?

- Can I talk to you a minute?

Sure, come on in.

Your mother called the station,

Mr. Wynant.

Ohh, I'm awful sorry about this.

It's okay, part of the job.

Mother, I do wish you'd told me

you were gonna call the Sheriff.

- Did you bring the shovel?

- No, Mrs. Wynant.

- There's one in the toolshed.

- Yes, ma'am.

Mother, you've had

far too much excitement already.

- I think you should go lie...

- At the northeast corner of the property,

you'll find where an old smokehouse

has been dismantled

and its basement filled in.

That's where she is.

- Yes, ma'am.

- And hurry.

- Yes, ma'am.

- Hurry.

Oh, boy.

Well, that's it.

You can see there's no physical evidence

to back up Mother's story at all.

- Well, there are some footprints.

- Sure, they're mine,

and our attorney's and Mother's, but

there weren't any when we first got here.

- No signs of digging.

- No, no.

- The ground wasn't dug up at all.

- No.

We looked for something,

we couldn't find a thing.

- What about the dog?

- No sign of him either.

Of course some of the people

in the housing tract

behind those trees have dogs,

and one of them could've

come running over here

chasing a squirrel,

or was digging for

a groundhog or something,

and the barking and the whining

just kinda set Mother off.

- What was this place?

- It was a smokehouse

years and years and years ago.

I don't know, it seems incredible,

but could some of the scent from the meats

that were being cured here once

still be in the soil?

No, I doubt it.

Where is this woman

supposed to be buried?

Mother said somewhere

within this area here.

This place hasn't been dug up in years.

- It'd take us all day to dig this up.

- Yep.

Mr. Wynant, your mother

was actually talking to the ground?

Yes.

I suppose you know my mother was

- away for a while?

- Yes, sir.

Well, the doctor said

she was ready to come home.

I thought so, too, actually,

and she's been home

for less than a week now.

This is her first day out of the house.

I'm sure it was very real to her.

I don't know,

maybe if you told her that you...

You dug up some earth

and just couldn't find anything,

- it would help.

- Yeah.

I guess that would be

the best thing to do.

Well, just so I won't be lying.

Thank you, I appreciate your help.

Well, did you find her?

- No, ma'am.

- Did you dig where I told you?

Oh, yes, ma'am,

and you could stop worrying.

Whatever it was you heard,

it wasn't anybody buried.

What I heard was

a woman calling for help.

Yes, ma'am.

Well, I'd request a crew

with picks and shovels,

but seeing how it's Sunday

and we're shorthanded,

well they probably couldn't get up here

until sometime tomorrow.

Yes, and if she isn't already dead,

she certainly will be by then.

Thank you for your trouble, Deputy.

Thank you, Deputy.

- Did you and the Deputy have a good laugh?

- You know that's not true, Mother.

Do I? I could always tell

when you were lying, Howard,

since you were a little boy.

Where are Martin and Anna?

It's their day off,

they've gone to Santa Maria.

Santa Maria?

Yes, to visit his brother,

he told you that.

Mother.

The Deputy told you the truth.

And that's another lie.

You weren't gone long enough

to do any digging.

You need anything else?

If you don't have enough already,

the Deputy's testimony will clinch it.

Close your mouth, Caroline,

your fangs are showing.

Hello?

Can you hear me?

Where are you?

Can you hear me?

- Can you hear me?

- Help.

Yes, I'll help you.

I'll get you out.

I'll get you out!

Can you hear me?

I can't do it.

Well, I'll get help.

I'll find someone to help.

- Hello.

- You live on this street?

- I do.

- All of you?

- She doesn't, she is my cousin.

Her folks are visiting at my house.

- Then, your mother's home?

- Yeah.

- What about you?

- Yeah, I live down the street.

- What's your name?

- David.

- Your mother home, too, David?

- Yeah.

She's taking a nap, her and Daddy.

I see, um,

do you know if any of the ladies

on this street are...

Are missing, or anything like that?

No, I don't, why?

Well, I just wondered.

David, are you strong?

- Sure.

- Do you suppose you could help me

- do some digging?

- What for?

Well, I lost a piece of jewelry,

an earring,

but I know just where it is.

Well, I don't know if I can.

I'd appreciate it, David.

You see, my fingers

aren't very strong anymore.

Arthritis.

Grown-up's hands

get like that sometimes.

- I'd pay for your help, David.

- How much?

- A dollar?

- A dollar! Okay!

- I'm strong, too, for a girl.

- So am I!

Thank you, but this is

really a one-man job.

- I'll go home and get my dad's shovel.

- No, no, I've got a shovel, David.

Come along,

I'll show you where it is.

- Okay!

- Come on,

I'm tired of this dumb game.

Let's go in the house

and watch TV.

- In there?

- Yes, it's not far.

- Gee, I don't know.

- What's the matter?

Well, you're not the lady

who lives there, are you?

- Why?

- Well, my folks say that she's kind of...

- What, David?

- Well, they say she's...

Nothing.

Well, I don't live there, David,

I'm... I'm just visiting.

You know her? Mrs. Wy...

- Mrs. Wynant.

- Yeah.

Yeah, she, like they say...

- You mean ill?

- Yeah, I guess.

Loony, everyone says.

Oh, well, she wasn't well,

but I think she's just fine now.

Won't she be mad about

our going onto her property?

I hear she's awful mean.

My mom says

she just hates everybody.

Oh, no, David.

She won't mind.

- I'm sure of it.

- Well, okay.

You can see where I've been trying to dig,

but a strong boy like you can do it easily.

- Right here?

- Right there.

Oh, that's very good, David.

You certainly are strong.

How'd the earring

get in so deep?

Well, it was all dug up here

the other day when I was here last

and then it was filled in again.

It sure got hard

in just a couple of days.

Do I get the dollar

even if you don't find it?

Of course, of course.

Hey!

You heard it.

Well, sure, I heard it.

How'd you do that?

You got one of them

ventuiqiquist things in your mouth?

Ventriloquist, David.

Yeah, let me see it, huh?

Help.

Hey, you didn't do that.

Your mouth was closed!

It came from down there!

David, there's a woman

buried down there.

- What?

- We've got to get her out.

That's why I need your help.

David, come back!

David, your dollar!

David!

- Yes?

- I need some help.

- What?

- Could you help me?

- Help you how, lady?

- Well, I know it sounds odd,

but I need someone to dig

just a few minutes, I'm sure.

You see, my hands

aren't strong enough.

I haven't got the faintest idea

what you're talking about.

It's not far. Just the other side

of that ravine.

- That's private property.

- Yes, I know. It's mine, I live there.

But, you see, I need help.

- You're Mrs. Wynant.

- Yes.

Phil? Phil, who is it?

- Uh, Mrs. Wynant?

- Who?

Mrs. Wynant?

If you'd just be kind enough

to give me a hand.

Well, why do you want to dig?

Look, I'm watching

football in there.

Can't you get your gardener, your son,

or someone to do it for you?

But, you see, uh...

There's a woman

buried there.

Well, I think you'd better call

the sheriff about that.

Seems like a matter for them.

I don't want to get mixed up in anything

like that, destroying evidence and all.

But you don't understand.

She's alive, and every minute counts.

Well, you're welcome to use our phone

if you want to call the sheriff.

No.

Oh.

Oh, never mind.

All that money.

Well, she sure can keep it.

Maybe I should call her son.

Oh, no.

They probably have

one of those unlisted numbers.

I mean, they usually do.

Besides, she looked

harmless to me.

- Yes, what is it?

- Forgive me for disturbing you,

but is the lady of the house in?

- Why?

- Well, I just...

I just want to make sure

she's all right.

- What?

- That's her!

It is.

What is it with you, lady?

What are you trying to do?

I'm terribly sorry

about startling David, but...

Startling him?

You scared him half to death!

Probably have nightmares

for the next couple of weeks.

What kind of nut are you anyway?

Please, it's very important.

You see, there's someone

in trouble.

You get your kicks

out of soaring little kids?

Believe me, I didn't

intend to frighten him.

People like you ought

to be locked up.

- You must listen to me.

- No, you listen to me.

If you don't stop bothering us, I'll call

the police and press charges against you.

Hey, let's go in there!

Ted's raring to go, he's gonna

beat the pants off of you today.

- Helen, I'm here!

- She's not here, Bernice.

What do you mean? We have a date

for lunch and bridge at Wilma's.

Where's your golf bag?

Uh, well, you see, last night,

Helen and I had a...

Oh, boy. Don't tell me

you and Helen had another fight.

Yeah, it was quite

a wingding, too.

I'm afraid it was loud enough

to entertain the whole neighborhood.

I suppose she's gone

to her mother's again.

Well, she said she was gonna

send for her things, that's all.

That bad?

Yeah, yeah, that bad.

Look, I'll come and apologize

to Ted, come on.

I know I should've called

and everything.

I don't think your buddy

feels much like golf today.

Look, I am sorry, Ted.

I'd only be a drag to you

out there, you see...

Helen's gone off to her mother

or somewhere.

Why don't you play golf anyway?

Get your mind off your troubles.

Helen can be the golf ball.

Look, Ted, look,

I'm awfully sorry.

I know I should've called you

and everything.

Look, Sunday, I'll give you

two strokes aside.

It's okay.

You won't have any trouble

getting a fourth out there, will ya?

No sweat.

I beg your pardon.

- How do you do?

I wonder if you'd know if anyone... Any

of the women on this street are missing?

- I beg your pardon?

- I know it's a strange question...

Well, Mrs. Wynant.

To what do we owe the honor of a visit

from the grande dame of Wynant Hill?

- Oh, Ken.

- Do I know you?

Oh, I'm sure you don't,

Mrs. Wynant,

but you can bet

that I'll never forget you.

I'm afraid I don't understand.

See, I'm the guy that built these houses

that went into hook to option this land,

and then you and your fancy friends

tried to hang me out to dry.

- Oh, Ken, please.

- All your lawyers

trying every trick in the book

to get this property rezoned

so you could keep riffraff like us

out of your neighborhood.

You almost did it, too.

You almost broke me.

Now, what can I do for you?

I need your help.

- Do ya now?

- Please, it's very important. There's a woman...

No. Whatever it is, no.

But let me tell you, Mrs. Wynant,

you have made my day.

You've made my week!

Goodbye, Mrs. Wynant.

Sir, can you help me?

I'm at my wits' end.

Sir, can you help me, please?

I'm at my wits' end.

I'm sorry. What's the trouble?

No one will believe me,

but I'm sure now, it's not my imagination.

There's a woman buried

just beyond those trees.

- Buried?

- Yes. Yes!

Well, I'm sorry,

I don't understand.

They won't believe you?

Who did you tell?

Oh, my son,

the sheriff, everyone.

- The sheriff?

- Everyone, but they think...

They think I'm out of my mind.

Oh, I see.

I'm not strong enough to dig and they

won't, but she's there, I know she is.

Well, how is it

that you happened...

I mean, how do you know

she's there?

Because I heard her.

- You heard her?

- Yes, calling for help.

Then, she's still alive?

Well, I'd say...

How could she possibly

still be alive?

I mean, how could anyone

breathe under the ground?

Well, I don't know,

but her voice was very weak,

as if she had very little strength left

or was slowly suffocating.

Well, when... when

did you hear her?

I mean, how... how long ago?

The last time,

perhaps a half hour?

She may be dead by now.

Yeah.

Still, that's a very difficult story

to believe.

Just the same,

I'm telling you the truth.

A little boy heard her, too.

- A little boy?

- Yes, but it frightened him.

He ran away.

Oh, please, you must help me.

Yes, yes.

Yes, I will help you, but, first,

you have to come and sit down.

- There's no time.

- Well, just a minute.

- Every second counts.

- Well, I know,

but you seem so very exhausted.

Oh.

You don't believe me either.

Yes, I do believe you,

and I'm going to help you,

but, first, you have to sit down and tell me

the details, quickly, so that I can help you.

- Still nothing?

- Not a sign of her.

Have you looked through

the house carefully?

- Every inch of it, twice now.

- And you're certain she's not on the property?

- Yes, yes, yes.

- Okay, let's check with the neighbors. Get in.

Okay.

- Now, feel better?

- Are you sure you know where to find her?

Absolutely. I mean, I'll dig

where you were digging.

- Perhaps I better come with you.

- No, no, that won't be necessary.

As soon as I find her,

then I'll come back here.

Why, that's the little dog.

Oh, Dusty? What about her?

Well, she was digging there

where the woman is.

Dusty has a great nose.

Mr. Nesbitt, where is your wife?

My wife? She's visiting her mother.

- What are you doing?

- I'm going home, Mr. Nesbitt.

- I don't think you'd better.

- Let me by, Mr. Nesbitt.

No!

I'm sorry.

You never intended

to do any digging, did you?

Mr. Nesbitt, your wife

may still be alive.

It's not likely.

I don't want to be digging up

a gas chamber for myself.

What do you intend

to do with me, Mr. Nesbitt?

I'm not sure.

I'm sorry, I wish you hadn't

backed me into a corner like this.

You see, I didn't mean

to hurt anyone!

We had an argument,

there was an accident!

Right. It doesn't matter

anymore, does it?

Yes, it does.

If it was an accident, not premeditated,

mitigating circumstances, you're not a murderer.

No, a man and his wife

have a fight, he kills her,

and then he buries her

in the ground.

No.

Not a chance.

But you...

A woman with your history,

if she apparently committed suicide

or had an accident,

then no one would be surprised.

Shall I scream, Mr. Nesbitt,

or will you open the door?

- Come in.

- Hello, I'm... Mother!

Do you know what you've put us through

and every single person on this street?

He's the one,

it's his wife buried there.

- I'm sorry, sir.

- Oh, it's all right, Mr. Wynant.

I'm glad you came by.

I let your mother come in because, well,

she was acting kind of strange.

She was talking about a woman

buried in the woods out there.

- I was gonna call you.

- I'm terribly sorry, sir, I understand.

Howard, he's lying.

He's the one who buried her.

The dog was his!

May I have your name, sir?

Oh, yeah, sure.

Nesbitt, Carl Nesbitt.

- Is there a Mrs. Nesbitt?

- Indeed, there is.

She's spending the day

over at her mother's, every Sunday.

I was just gonna call her on the phone

if you'd like to talk to her.

No, I don't think

that'll be necessary.

Howard, no,

what's the matter with you?

He's a murderer!

He was going to kill me, too!

He's lying! Cam YOU see?

He's lying!

You can still save her, please!

No, you can still...

She really didn't make

much sense, did she?

Shouldn't she be under

a doctor's care or something?

- She was.

- Oh?

Yeah, I guess they'll

have to take her back now.

It must really be terrible

for her family, huh?

- Sorry about this, Mr. Nesbitt.

- Oh, well...

No, no, Doctor,

please, Doctor, no.

- You have to hold her still.

- Please don't, Doctor, please!

No, you mustn't! There's no one

to help her but me! No one!

Why are you doing this to me?

You know I'm not insane,

you know it!

Of course you're not insane, but

you've worked yourself into such a state

that you leave me

no alternative.

Now when you've rested

and calmed down, we'll talk.

But you're killing her.

If she's not already dead,

she surely will be by then, don't you see?

Laura, please.

Now, please, don't fight it.

You've got to get some rest.

Oh, that poor woman.

If only somebody...

Some...

She'll sleep now.

I'll be down in a minute.

All right, sir.

I'd keep an eye on her.

How long do you think

she'll sleep, sir?

Well, she's utterly exhausted,

and that's a powerful drug.

Ordinarily, I'd say she ought

to sleep through till the morning.

Ordinarily?

Your mother has

a great power of will,

and she's exceedingly agitated.

It's unlikely, but, well,

if she fights that sedation,

it's possible in five or six hours

that she could force herself awake.

And what do we do then?

That depends on

her state of mind.

If necessary, you have my service

and get a hold of me at a moment's notice.

And I'll come up and see her

in the morning.

- Doctor?

- Yes?

I'm sorry, sir,

do you have a moment?

- Certainly.

- Do you think we could talk, sir, to just...

Uh, sir, what, uh,

what does this mean?

I mean, you thought that she was ready

to come home and I did too,

but it looks like she's had some kind of...

Some kind of of regression.

Yeah, well, you can't expect me

to make a diagnosis

based on one hysterical incident.

Oh, but it's been

going on all day.

It didn't start with hysterics,

just aberrations.

She kept insisting that she saw

and heard things that were all in her head.

Do you think she could possibly be

remembering that woman in Florida,

you know, who was buried alive

by the kidnappers?

The idea of a woman

buried alive,

it could be

a kind of transference.

Tell me, uh...

Did anything happen?

Something that she might

feel threatens her?

Well, perhaps the fact that she knows

that we have had offers

to sell off most of the land

and perhaps the fact that she knows that

we haven't got much choice in the matter.

I don't know, sir. I've tried to talk

to her about it, but she's been very

unreasonable about the whole thing.

- Irrational, you mean.

- Undoubtedly, her breakdown

was triggered by

your father's death.

But before this,

before going away and after

she's been back, she forgets things:

What day it is, what happened a few years

ago, what happened a few moments ago.

What's that, if not unbalanced?

That is physiological.

It's not an uncommon geriatric condition

caused by hardening of the arteries.

But, sir, she's not that old.

My dear fellow, it can happen

to anyone in their forties sometimes.

It's a series of, uh,

of little strokes

that temporarily, only temporarily,

out off the supply of blood

to a small portion of the brain,

but it can be treated.

It definitely, very definitely,

is not a psychiatric condition.

And what happened today?

Well, as I said,

no more curbside diagnosis.

- Doctor?

- Yes.

If you were called upon to testify

at a competency hearing

in lieu of what did happen today,

what would your professional opinion be?

Do you plan one?

Well...

Uh, we're considering it.

Oh, I see.

Well, Doctor?

My professional opinion?

I haven't got one yet.

What are you doing with that shovel?

Are you going to bury a body?

- What? Phoebe?

- Yeah.

Well, Hamlet's come to the mountain.

Come on, celebration time.

- Hello.

Well, that's not a big reward

for driving up here.

- Why, is something the matter?

- No, no, it's, uh...

Here, let me get the lights, huh?

Just, uh, just the neighbors.

- Come on, come on inside.

- Um, I was about to make myself a drink,

you know, but I decided that it would be

much better if you made it for me.

- You're glad I came, aren't you?

- Oh, yeah, yeah, sure.

Come on.

Caroline, where are you going?

- Out.

- Where?

- Among the living.

- To meet somebody in particular?

Anybody in particular.

The same anybody you were with

until 4:30 this morning?

Oh, you've been

keeping tabs on me.

How nice,

makes a girl feel loved.

- No, Caroline.

- I beg your pardon?

You're not going anywhere.

Howard, don't be such an ass.

If I divorce you now, there won't be

any community property to share.

- You divorce me?

- Yes, I'm tired of being known

as the cuckold of Wynant Hill.

Well, aren't you interesting,

standing there on your hind legs,

making sounds like an outraged husband.

Interesting, but a long time late.

I'm quite serious, Caroline.

Good.

Because I have a bulletin

for you, Howard, dear.

I called a lawyer this afternoon

and he gave me a choice bit of information.

A daughter-in-law can force

competency hearings in this state

without her husband's

cooperation.

And thanks to your mother's

marvelous performance today

in front of a large and assorted audience,

I'm practically assured of the result.

So get the divorce going

by all means.

Honey, I'm sorry, but I just

don't think I'm gonna be

very good company

for ya tonight, that's all.

You are uptight about

our being here, aren't you?

Yeah. Yeah, I guess that's it.

Silly boy. I mean,

this is your house now.

She's out of your life forever.

Come on, come

and sit in this chair.

Let these educated fingers do... do their

stuff on this nasty tension in your neck.

Oh, no, no, no, honey, look,

I'm not in any mood for that.

I, uh, I think you better just let me stew

in my own juices for a while, huh?

- Are you challenging me, hm?

- Huh?

Hm?

Honey, just knock it off.

All right, I accept

the challenge.

Now, you make yourself another drink,

all right, my darling boy,

while I slip into something

more comfortable, okay?

- No! Now I said knock it off or I'll...

- Or what?

Or what, Carl?

- I'm sorry, honey.

- You hurt my arm.

- I'm sorry.

- What? Did you think

I was gonna get into

something of hers, huh?

Do you really think

I'm that common?

I said I was sorry.

Please, try and understand.

It's just I have my mind

on some other things.

Oh, I see. I don't actually

repulse you, I just bore you!

No, no, honey. It's what you said,

it's this house, you know?

I think I'm gonna have to figure

on living somewhere else,

you see, get a fresh start.

Yes. Yes, Carl, we have

to figure on a lot of new things.

A whole lot of new things.

Maybe we just better stop

before we start.

I mean, I don't need a brick wall

to fall on me, you know.

Now, now.

Please.

Honey, I'll call you. Soon, huh?

Yes, yes, if you wish.

Ahh!

Ohm

Good Lord.

You saved her life, Mrs. Wynant.

She saved mine.

May I drive you home, ma'am?

Yes. Yes, thank you, Sergeant.

It's been a long day.

What happened? I heard

something on the radio.

Caroline, your case

just got thrown out of court.

The Screaming Woman (1972) - full transcript