The Witches Mountain (1973) - full transcript

[waves crashing]

[honking]

[honking]

[honking]

[gate squeaking]

[dramatic music]

[Oscar] Morning!

Oscar?

- Yes, ma'am?
- Has anyone called?

No one at all.

Has the maid returned yet?



No, she won't get here
until eight tonight.

Take my car to the mechanic.

Have them check the brakes
and the steering.

You better wait
for them to finish.

I'll do that right away.

[dramatic music continues]

Circe!

Where's that cat?

[music intensifies]

[woman yells]

In, In, "Infidel".

Guerda! What are you doing here?

I came to punish you.

To punish me?



We are angry with what you did.

Listen, Guerda,
you're completely wrong.

Let me explain.

You can explain
when we get there.

Let's go!

Chi-chi's hiding.

Guerda!

Guerda!

It was all because of
that stupid cat of yours!

[Carla] Wait! Wait a minute!

Guerda, please, wait.
You're mistaken!

I'm not mistaken at all.

I had strict orders
to take you to the others.

Chi-chi!

Chi-chi!

Chi-chi, where are you hiding?

[Carla] Please,
give me just two days!

You can't deny me that.

I beg of you!

Wait a minute, Guerda.
Please wait.

Please!

Listen to me a second, Guerda.

How could you live
with that revolting animal?

Now I can't find
Chi-chi anywhere!

Guerda!

Maybe she's in the garage.

You know she just loves cars.

[Guerda grunts]

Chi-chi, where are you?

We're in a hurry!

That old cat won't
bother you anymore.

I killed it!

Look! There she is!

Poor Chi-chi, she's all upset.

Calm down, my little one.

We're going now.

Carla's gonna take us
in her beautiful car.

How could that cat frighten you?

Calm down.

We're leaving right away.

You know what, Carla?

Chi-chi loves
the smell of gasoline.

Isn't that marvelous?

- [fire roaring]
- [screaming]

[eerie choir singing]

[ominous music]

[eerie choir continues]

[switch clicking]

Carla.

What are you doing here?

I've been waiting for you.

- How did you get in?
- I still have a key.

No, that's impossible.

I didn't know myself
that I'd be coming back--

Well, I wanted to see you and...

I kind of guessed
you'd be coming back.

Are you that surprised
to see me?

You don't love me any longer?

Don't be ridiculous, Carla.

Tell me why you've come here.

Because I love you, that's why.

You know, you're forcing me
to be disagreeable.

It's just that you haven't gotten over
the surprise of seeing me.

You can't be serious.

I've never been
more serious in my life.

Another woman?

Don't be silly.

You know perfectly well
we can't live together.

Have you forgotten?

Mario, listen to me, I--

Come on, Carla,
let's forget about it.

End of conversation.

Sit down, would you please?

[sighing]

I guess it was a mistake
to come by without calling first.

I wanted to
surprise you, darling.

Mario...

two plane tickets for Brazil.

I knew you were going to
take a vacation

and I thought we might
spend it together,

you and I.

I need you now more than ever!

Kramer Publishing?

This is Mario Baldor calling.

Give me the head of photography.

Is that you, Dan?

Doing okay.

Just now, I have something
important to tell you.

I don't want a vacation.

No, your hearing's
not going bad,

give me any assignment you want.

No, I'm not drunk.

You want me to do what?

Am I hearing you right?

All right, I'll do
whatever you say.

I'll leave tomorrow, so long.

You'll be sorry for that,
you hear?

You shouldn't be
so melodramatic.

I'll see you to the door.

Don't bother.

I know my way out.

[waves crashing]

[engine revving]

[waves crashing]

[camera clicks]

[shutter clicking]

[shutter clicking]

[shutter clicking]

[shutter clicking]

[shutter clicking]

[shutter clicking]

[Mario] Nice place.

A lot of privacy, too.

I thought the same thing.
But I'd say I was mistaken.

[Mario] Can I stay a while?

You took a picture of me?

Mm-hm, several.

What was the object?

I just like beauty.
You see, I'm an artist

and I'm sorry if I bothered you.

I don't mind, photograph me
as much as you wish.

But give the negatives to me.

You shall have them.

And as punishment
for my impertinence,

I'll invite you to lunch.

All right, it's not a bad idea.

What are we waiting for?

[Mario] Excuse my asking,
but are you from around here?

No, I came to work here.

What do you do?

I'm a writer.

Very interesting.

Have you been here very long?

Almost three months.

Do you know where
the mountain is?

No.

I have an assignment,
up around the lakes.

Would you like to come with me?

Thanks, but I can't.

Are you married?

[laughs] No and you?

Not yet, I'm not.

Here you are.

- Bring the check, will you please?
- Certainly.

I'm sorry you can't
come with me.

I'd like to have made
the trip with you.

What time is it?

It's 4:30.

- Could you take me home, please?
- Oh sure, of course.

I live two miles away.

[Mario] Do you live alone?

Yeah.

- Don't you get bored?
- No, to the contrary.

[both laughing softly]

Would it be possible to see you
again when I come back?

Yes, sometime.

That's my house there.

I've decided to go with you
to the mountains.

Wait a minute.

Sure.

[wolf whistling]

[gate squeaking]

[whistling]

[woman chanting nearby]

[eerie female choir chanting]

[chanting grows louder]

What kind of music was that?

What music?

Didn't you hear that song?

What song?

I've never heard anything
like it in my life.

It was very loud!

[stutters]

And for a moment there
I thought I had

all those voices in my head!

[laughs]
You must've been dreaming.

[engine starting]

[engine revving]

[Mario] I still can't understand
about that music.

[Delia] You're still
thinking about that?

What are you trying to do?
Frighten me?

[Mario] Or you're just
trying to kid me.

[Delia] Me?

Suppose you have loudspeakers
outside the house.

You put a record on
and turn up the volume.

[laughs]
What an imagination you have.

The music stopped
when you came out.

[laughing]

Go on and laugh,
I've found you out.

[water running]

[Delia] Are you still thinking
about your music?

[Mario]
No, let's forget about it.

[Mario] Mm, I think this is the end
they told me about.

What do you say we take a look?

[Delia] I hope this is it,
I'm hungry and sleepy.

[Mario] Shall we go in?

[Delia] Good evening.

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

- What can I do for you?
- Do you have rooms?

How many do you want?

All right.

Would you like something to eat?

There's soup, bread...

and bacon and eggs.

Anything's alright with me.

How's that?

[loudly] She said anything
will be all right!

Give us whatever
you have to eat.

Oh, all right.

I'll give you a little bit
of everything I have.

[mutters]

Since I have a lot
to talk to him about,

I'll wind up with laryngitis.

[laughs]

Why did you look at me
when you asked for the room?

What would you have said if I'd...
only asked for one room?

What do you think
I would've said?

Your dinner will be ready
in a minute.

I fixed soup,

eh, bacon and eggs...

and venison.

I think that's great.
Will it be long?

Right away.

I'm sure it'll all be wonderful.

How can you say that
if you haven't tried it yet?

- Shall we bring the luggage in?
- Mm-hm.

I want to ask you something.

What's that?

What made you decide so suddenly
to come with me?

I felt kind of bored.

Only for that?

There's another reason.

You seem like
an interesting person.

No, I don't "seem like",

I am.

[both laughing]

Whenever you want,
I'll show you to your room.

I have to go to bed,
I have to get up early.

- So do we.
- Mm-hm, right.

Here's your room.

See you in the morning.

Delia, what time do you wanna
get up in the morning?

Whenever you say
is all right with me.

Well, when I wake up,
I'll knock on your door.

Get a good night's sleep.

See you in the morning.

[screaming]

[objects crashing]

[dramatic music]

[Delia whimpers]

- [crashing noise]
- [Delia yells]

[Delia panting]

[lock rattling]

[yells]

What are you frightened about?

It's only me.

[sighs]

I forgot to tell you,
we turn the electricity off now.

I brought a candle for you.

Delia! What's wrong?

[Delia whimpers]

Why did you scream?

What happened?

[Delia shivering]

Who turned the lights out?

What did you say?

Who turned the lights out?!

I know that.

It happens every night.

It's the main station
that connects with the mine.

They're back on.

[blowing]

They'll go back off again
in very few minutes.

Don't worry, Delia,
it was just a short circuit.

There was someone in my window.

It was looking at me.

In your window?

Her face was there,
on a level the same as mine.

If you don't mind,
I'll go to bed now.

- Do you have a ladder?
- A ladder? What for?

Somebody in the window
frightened the young lady.

And to get up to her window
they had to use a ladder.

I don't think you're right.

Then how did they get
to the young lady's window?

[Innkeeper] Easy,

because her window was
only five feet from the ground.

The back of the house
is against the mountainside.

Is it all right
if I go to bed now?

I'm too frightened
to sleep alone.

Can we spend the night
down below in the bar?

If you like.

By the fire you can
stay warm, can't you?

Yes, thanks.

That's if it's
all right with you.

[Mario] Sure, why not?

Forgive me, I didn't want
to be a nuisance.

Don't talk nonsense,

you're an excellent traveling companion.

Go on now, get some rest.

We have work tomorrow.

Try to get some sleep.

Delia?

Delia!

Delia!

Oh, pardon me...

Are you-- are you leaving?

Have you seen the young lady?

The young lady! Where is she?!

[frustrated sigh]

[Mario] Delia!

Delia!

You two are the strangest pair
I've ever seen.

Would you tell me
what's wrong now?

The young lady has disappeared.

Don't worry about that.

She just went out for a walk
and is looking around the countryside,

that's all.

You and your girlfriend
are a strange pair.

[engine starting]

[Delia groans]

[dramatic music]

Mario!

Mario!

[Delia whimpering]

[engine starting]

[Delia] Mario!

[sobbing]

It's all right now.

What happened?

- I don't know.
- You don't know?

I woke up in the middle
of the forest.

Why did you leave the inn alone?

I just don't know.

Maybe you're a sleepwalker.

I felt like someone
was following me.

You can tell me
all about it in the Jeep.

Something hot will be
good for you.

Don't you think?

Thank you.

Are you sure you don't wanna rest
before we leave?

No.

I feel much better now.

Thank you.

After we've had some breakfast,
we better take off.

I'll go up for my baggage.

Right.

Fix us a lunch to take
with us, would you?

Would you talk louder?

Fix us a lunch to take with us!

We're leaving!

Would you mind
answering me a question?

Of course not.

Are you...

- Are you going very far?
- Mm-hm.

To the lakes.

Is the young lady...
going with you?

Mm-hm.

Mm, the mountain is very...

very difficult.

You must take care and...
and be awful careful

for the young lady.

Don't worry about it.

We're only going to go
as far as our car will take us.

Don't forget...

that I warned you.

Thanks all the same.

You know what
the innkeeper told me?

He told me that you
shouldn't come with me.

And what do you think?

Maybe he was right.

Maybe it would be better...

better if I took you home.

He said it might be
dangerous for you.

Don't you worry about me,
this trip interests me.

I have no intention
of backing out now.

[wind whooshing]

Hey.

Mario...

did you see that?

I've never seen
such shy people in my life.

Hurry, will you?

Those animals horrify me.

[Mario]
I think I'll climb this hill.

You're too tired, you can stay
in the Jeep and rest.

[Delia] I wouldn't think of it.

I didn't make this long trip
to continue sitting in the Jeep

or did I?

- [Mario] You ready to climb?
- Of course.

All right.

[eerie music]

Mario! Someone's driving
the Jeep away!

[engine humming]

[engine revving]

[Mario] Hey! Come back here!

Hey!

That's my car!

How do you like that? If you had
stayed in the Jeep like I asked...

and if you hadn't
left the keys inside...

excuse me, Delia.

That was a stupid thing
for me to say to you.

Forget it.

What do we do now?

I don't know.

I suppose we'll have
to start walking.

Heh, of course we could always
hitch a ride, huh?

There's the shepherd!
Maybe he saw someone.

Good afternoon.

Did you happen to see a Jeep
pass by here a little while ago?

Which way did it go?
Do you remember?

Mario, what happened to
the shepherd and his goats?

What do I care?

The only thing I care about
is my Jeep.

We should have asked him
where this trail goes.

What's the difference?

We have no other alternative
than to go where it goes.

[wind whistling]

[birds singing]

[eerie music]

- Looks as though they didn't take a thing.
- And the keys are in the ignition.

[Delia] Who do you suppose
drove it here?

This little village
looks abandoned.

I'll find out right now.
You stay here.

Mm-mm, wouldn't think of it.
I'm going where you go.

You're the boss, let's go.

[Mario] It's not as abandoned
as we thought.

[knocking on door]

What can I do for you?

Good afternoon.

Could you tell me
who drove that car here?

Didn't you two drive it?

Someone stole it from us
several hours ago.

We just found it here.

Well, I wouldn't know.

Would you know if it was
someone here in the village?

There isn't anybody else,
I live here alone.

Alone?

Yes, young lady.

The old folks have been dying

and the young people have been
going to the cities.

Would you like to stay
overnight here?

Yeah, all right.

Do you happen to know of some place
we could stay the night?

If you're not too proud,
you can spend the night at my house.

The spare bedroom
hasn't been used in a long time.

Thank you, ma'am.

We'll spend the night.

Won't you come in?

Heh, I'll go down and
get our luggage for us.

[Old Lady] Come in, miss.
And make yourself at home.

[Delia] You have a very
pretty house.

Oh, you're just being kind,
young lady.

It's poor and old.

Poor and old like its owner.

No, really, I like it.

Please sit down, miss,
you look awfully tired.

Get out of here!
Get to your place! Go!

If you'll excuse me,
I'll finish what I was doing.

After, I'll fix us some coffee.

Oh, don't worry about me.

- [muttering in foreign language]
- [liquid splashing]

What are you making?

Just some home remedies.

The doctors don't
get up this far.

These recipes are centuries old

and have been around
for generations.

And do they give results?

Like nothing else!

Why are you preparing so much
if there's no one else in the village?

Can't you see what a wreck I am?

But you seem to be
in very good shape.

Well...

the truth is,
I make my living from it.

There are some shepherds...

who ask me for my medicines
from time to time.

- Besides that, I--
- [loud crashing]

[door shuts]

Excuse me, I must've knocked
something over when I came in.

Oh, don't worry about that,
my boy.

[Mario]
I still can't figure it out.

Who stole the Jeep?

And why did they steal it?

There's absolutely
nothing missing.

Maybe the thief didn't know
we would find it.

He may come back later
to take it away.

This time, I locked everything.

I even took the distributor cap.

[Delia chuckles]

Oh, ma'am,
where can I put my things?

Ah, leave them in here.

- Where you're going to sleep.
- Thank you.

[door shuts]

Is your husband a photographer?

[Delia] Yes.

Few travelers pass
through the village.

Only hunters, normally.

And less of them
come through now.

I'm going to have to thank
the thief who brought us here.

This place is incredible.

I'm going to take advantage
of the remaining light outside.

Would you like to come with me?

No, I think I've walked
enough for today.

I think I'm getting
an inspiration just now.

What do you say to that?

Don't go too far
from the village, my boy.

And when the fog comes up,

get back to the house immediately,
you might get lost.

Don't you worry about me.
I'm a good mountaineer.

- I'll see you later.
- [Delia] Don't be too long.

[somber dramatic music]

[somber music continues]

[music fades]

[typewriter clacking]

It's getting a little late.
Where do you suppose Mario is?

It's not dark yet,
your husband will get here.

Go ahead writing.

I never once heard
that little noise.

[birds chirping]

it's getting awfully late,
something must've happened.

I told your husband it was easy

to get lost in these mountains,
didn't I?

Do you think he's lost?

I'm sure of it,
he doesn't know his way.

And with this fog you can't take
one step in the clear.

Where are you going?

I don't know.

We must do something,
he could've fallen and hurt himself.

And you if you go out now.

Don't worry about your husband.

He said he was used
to the mountains.

He's probably taking
shelter in the cave,

waiting for dawn.

Have dinner and go to bed.

He'll return.

We ought to go look for him.

No, even me who was born here,

knowing step by step
of this mountain,

wouldn't think of taking a step
outside in this fog.

Don't worry,

your husband will return,
I'm sure of it.

He's not my husband.

Would you believe I knew it?

How did you know?

Because I'm very old.

You have to stop worrying...

and eat.

I'm not hungry.

Have a little hot milk.

It will make you feel good.

Go on, get out of there!

Go on, go away! Go on.

[dramatic music]

[woman chanting in the distance]

[female choir chanting]

[woman continues chanting]

[female choir chanting]

[woman continues chanting]

[Delia screams]

Calm yourself, young lady.

You're awfully nervous.

You must've had
a nightmare just then.

What time is it?

Just before dawn.

You must be patient.

He'll come back before daylight.

You should eat something.

Mm-mm.

Then sleep a little more now.

It'll make you feel
a lot better if you do.

I put a little something
in your cup

so that you would sleep better.

Mm-hm.

[dramatic music]

He's coming, young lady.
He's coming.

- Hey.
- What happened to you?

[Old Lady] I'm so glad,
it doesn't seem to be serious.

I fell and then
I got lost in the fog.

Then I slept a little while.

Give me a little cognac,
would you?

It's in there, in my suitcase.

You were lucky, young man.

You could've broken your neck,
if you had fallen off a cliff.

I'll heat some water
to wash that off.

Thank you.

Here.

Worrying about me
being hurt on the mountain...

and now it's you
that's the victim.

I saw something that I'll never forget
as long as I live, Delia.

What did you see?

A very strange
procession of women

dressed in mourning.

Some of them didn't seem
to have any faces.

The witches.

How can you believe
in those stupid things?

It was nothing more
than a funeral!

It was a lot more than that.

But did you see it...

before or after you fell?

[Mario] Before.

You don't think it could've
been an hallucination?

That's what I thought.

But anyway it'll be
in the photographs

I took last night.

I shot two reels
of the procession.

Your bed is ready for you.

Thank you ma'am, I...

I'm not going to bed until I've
developed these photographs.

We'll soon know what's going on.
This never lies.

What do you think
about the procession?

Mm, I don't know.

I certainly don't believe in
the old lady's witches stories.

Do you believe that everything
has a logical explanation?

Of course I do, don't you?

Some things don't happen
to have an explanation.

Only on the surface.

Everything has a logical explanation
when you discover its cause.

How much longer?

It's ready.

Something strange?

Tell me what you see.

I have to make some copies.

There's something there,
isn't there?

I have to amplify them.

Let's get back to
the old lady's house.

- [Delia] How are they coming?
- They're almost ready now.

You can come in!

Where are they?

Nothing came out
of the procession.

However, something
much better came out.

Maybe I should say stranger.

I developed both rolls.

Who are those women?

That's what I'd like to know.

I don't understand this.

When I took these
yesterday morning...

the village was
completely empty.

I'll ask the old lady.
Maybe she can explain it.

[Mario] There's still more.

Look at this one.

[Delia] But that's you and me.

This is a photograph
that worries me so.

[Woman] Santa! Santa!

You better hurry,
we have a serious injury!

I know this path,
it goes to the clearing.

It's best you wait in the Jeep.

Here are the keys.

- I'm going to follow them.
- No, I want to go with you.

All right, let's go.

Please, Mario.
Let's get out of here.

[Santa speaks indistinctly]

And once and for all...

Please, let's go!

You're not to approach them
until the right time,

until the right time!

Do you hear me?!

What are we waiting for?

We have to leave
before it gets dark.

That's true.

But there simply
has to be an explanation.

And if there isn't?

There has to be.

All right.

If you believe an explanation
exists, look for it.

Well I think I'll go speak with
the old lady and the other women.

You'll see how it's just
an absurd joke.

After all, I'm not too worried.

I have enough material
for a good photographic layout.

You'll be all right here,
won't you?

I'll be back
as soon as possible.

Don't worry about me.

[birds chirping]

[water dripping]

[man roars]

[mellow dramatic music]

[dramatic music continues]

[dramatic music continues]

[water running]

- Santa!
- [banging on door]

- Santa!
- [door crashing]

[cat meowing]

[cat meowing]

[cat meowing]

[cat meowing]

[cat meowing]

[cat meowing]

[cat meowing]

[meowing]

[cat squealing]

[woman groans]

- Where is Santa?
- [woman yelling]

Where is Santa?

Where is Santa?!

[choking]

Let's get out of here.

[engine stalling]

You left the distributor cap.

Oh.

Here it is.

[engine starting]

[engine revving]

[wind whooshing]

[Mario] I don't remember
coming this way.

This must be the main road
to the highway.

[Delia]
We've already come 30 miles.

[Mario] That's another reason why
I think we're on the main road.

[Delia] There's nothing
to be worried about now.

[Mario] Yes, there is. Fog.

[Delia] Why are you worried
about the fog now?

[Mario] It's treacherous
when night falls.

[Mario] I can't see the road.

We have no other choice

but to spend the night
around here someplace.

[Delia]
It won't be bad in the Jeep.

[Mario] In the Jeep? No.

I have a camping tent
in the back.

It hasn't even been used yet.

I'll have it up in five minutes.

Fine.

- Here.
- Thanks.

It's all set.

Wait a minute.

[both chuckling]

Yeah, it's better this way, no?

- [dramatic music]
- [female choir singing]

[dramatic music continues]

[dramatic music continues]

[dramatic music fades]

Carla!

[Mario yells]

[man grunts]

[Delia whimpering]

[both grunting]

- [loud whack]
- [man groans]

[Mario groaning]

[Delia whimpers]

Delia!

Delia!

Delia!

[Delia screaming]

[engine starting]

[fire crackling]

[fire roaring]

[engine revving]

[door slamming]

- [dramatic music]
- [female choir singing]