Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) Movie Script

Do you think she'll come?

Of course she will.

You know she will.

But when? When?

Very soon,

it's just a matter of time.

I'm waiting for a while.

All we have to do is

bide our time. Bide our time.

But it's been so long.

So many years.

When will she come

and set us free? Set us free.

Patience, please. Patience.

We have all the time

in the world.

All the time in the world.

In the world. In the world.

TO set us free in the world.

There's gonna be a lot of work.

I'll manage.

Alex, you're sure

you don't mind?

- About moving in here?

- Yes.

Well, uh, an apartment in a

high-rise would've been nice

but this'll be fine.

You'll see, you'll like it.

And anyway, it'll be fun.

Yeah, you better get

someone to help you.

- A decorator?

- And a carpenter.

How about that old man, uh..

The one who used to work here?

All right.

The kitchen has to be

completely redone.

And I'm gonna need

some bookcases.

Alex, I wish I could

find the key to that door.

Hmm, must be around somewhere.

I'll have another look.

You know, this is really

a terrific house.

Um, just a little more

to the left.

- Oh, that's perfect.

- All right.

Oh, the room is

beautiful. I love it.

Yes, I think it'll be

nice when it's finished.

Even Alex likes it.

I'm glad. Husbands can

often be so difficult.

I had to practically twist

his arm for us to move in here.

His idea of comfort

is a high-rise.

Not mine.

All right, bring me

the things for the party.

I'll bring you

the sample for the bedspread.

Oh, good, thank you.

I can't wait

to get the upstairs done.

I get very depressed

every time I come up here.

Yes, I'm afraid,

your grandmother will not be

remembered for her good taste.

But she will be remembered

for leaving us this house.

Oh, I mustn't forget the

carpet samples for the stairs.

I thought something,

uh, navy bluish would be

a good contrast with the

lime green at the living room.

Oh, it sounds beautiful.

Uh, before you go, there's

something I wanna show you.

Um, it'll only take

a minute, I promise.

Hello, Mr. Harris, how are you?

Very good, Mrs. Farmhand.

The key... you found it.

Yesterday. I was going through

some of my grandmother's things.

And it was hidden

in an envelope in her desk.

Watch out, there's stairs here.

Grandmother's usual

cherry decor, I see.

No, this time

it was my grandfather.

I don't think this room

has been used since he died.

Oh, you can't.

I've tried.

But, uh, it's been

nailed shut for some reason.

Obviously, he didn't

want to be disturbed by

daylight when he worked.

What a nice desk.

The chair's not bad.

As a matter of fact,

the whole room's not bad at all.

I thought

of making it into, um..

Some sort of office for myself.

Well, why not?

We could open up the shutters..

Pick all the paneling

a lighter color and..

And break the fireplace.

Why would anyone like to

close up a lovely

fireplace like that?

I don't know.

But I've always dreamed

of having a room like this.

Some place where I could sit

in front of a roaring fire.

Do something very romantic,

like make out my grocery list.

Now, I really must run along.

Well, I'll see you

the day after tomorrow, right?

Right, I'll bring

all the party things.

Thank you. I'm gonna wait

down here for a while, all right?

All right, I'll find

my own way up.

- Goodbye.

- Yeah, goodbye.

It won't work.

Sorry, miss. I didn't

mean to make you jump.

It's all right.

Well, why won't it work?

I mean, surely all it needs

is to be... smashed open.

Those bricks are

cemented four deep

and reinforced with iron bars.

There's no way of opening it up.

Now, whose idea was that?

Your grandmother had me

do that 20 years ago.

Why?

You know, it..

It was after, uh..

After what?

I just can't open it up.

Now, Mr. Harris,

surely you're not afraid

of a little hard work, hmm?

It's not the work.

It's just that

some things are

better left as they are.

Especially that fireplace.

What's this?

It's, uh,

for cleaning out the ashes.

It's been bolted shut.

By me, and that's

the way it should stay.

But why? It's a perfectly

good fireplace.

Why all the mystery?

Unless you know something

that I don't know.

Sally?

Down here in the study.

All I know, miss,

is what I told you before.

It's just that some things

are better left as they are.

Hi, babe.

Mr. Harris, the

bookcases look great.

Well, thank you.

Hey, what are you all

doin' down here?

Uh-oh, what's the matter?

Well, Mr. Harris and I

aren't seeing eye-to-eye.

- About what?

- About the fireplace.

I wanna open it up, and

he wants me to leave it alone.

I agree with him.

It beats me why you

want to use this room, anyway.

It's-it's-it's damp,

it's cold, it's..

This, uh, it's a miserable room.

Mr. Harris doesn't think

it's the cold and damp.

He thinks it's the ghostly aura

of my ancestors.

That's not what I said,

Mrs. Farmhand.

That's what you implied.

And he may be right.

I'm gonna go upstairs

and fix myself a drink.

Mr. Harris,

can I get one for you?

No, thank you, sir,

I gotta be getting along.

All right. Sal?

Whatever you're having is fine.

Okay.

Goodnight, Mrs. Farmhand.

Goodnight, Mr. Harris.

I'll be back tomorrow

to paint the bookcases.

Well, Mr. Harris,

if you won't do it, I will.

Okay, Sally..

Hey, what're you doin'?

I just wanted to look around.

You know, you're more stubborn

than I am, do you know that?

You really are.

Can you see anything?

No, nothing.

It's just a

ton of bricks and, uh..

Cement and iron bars

closing up the opening.

Yeah, well..

Sal, by the time

we knock this down,

ripped it out, clean it up

did all that,

it'd cost a fortune.

Cheers.

See things my way?

- I guess, I'll have to.

- Okay.

How about some dinner?

Sally, Sally, Sally.

Free, free, she set us free.

We're free. She set us free.

Free, free, free.

Would you like some more?

No, no, thanks.

Sally, what are you

gonna serve at the party?

Well, I'm meeting

Joan tomorrow at the caterers

and I thought

something fairly simple.

Yeah, but not, not too simple.

You know, I gotta

make a good impression

on that guy Henderson.

Not to mention

Roberts and Miller.

Yeah.

Henderson, Roberts, Miller..

And Farmhand, maybe.

There's no maybe about it.

Hope you're right.

I think I'm right.

They'd be crazy

not to make you a partner.

The only thing is,

I wish this house was finished.

I really wish

this house was finished.

Alex, please

don't worry about it.

It'll be like

having a party in a subway.

It'll be fun, I promise.

Okay, I guess so. I guess so.

Anyway, if

the house isn't perfect,

I'll be a perfect hostess.

Sal.

Yes?

You do want this

for me, don't you?

I mean, this partnership.

Well, of course, I do.

It's everything you want.

Everything you've

worked hard for.

It's just that it's..

It's what?

All-consuming.

I wish you had

a little more time and energy.

Sal, after the party..

And when I get back

from San Francisco,

I promise I will have.

San Francisco?

- Yeah, didn't I tell you about it?

- No.

Well, the morning after

the party, Henderson and I

are gonna fly up there.

Why?

Who is it this time?

It's the Randolph Trust Company.

Now, old man Randolph is one

of the firm's largest accounts.

Now, if I get this promotion..

I'll be handling

all the business.

All of it.

Hey.

Don't be so grim.

You just married me

'cause I'm the perfect hostess.

No. No, hey.

I married you

because I love you.

I'll be upstairs.

I think we have visitors.

- Visitors?

- Mice.

I thought I saw something

in the kitchen.

Well, it could be,

but I kind of doubt it.

Remember we had

the place fumigated

just before we moved in.

- Sal, I'm gonna take a shower.

- Okay.

Sally.

- Alex?

- Yeah?

The ashtray, in the bedroom.

It-it fell off

the bedside table.

What's the matter?

I don't know, I dozed off

and I suddenly woke up and..

I saw the ashtray toppling

to the floor and it smashed.

Well, when you woke up,

you probably knocked it

with your arm or something.

Alex, I wasn't anywhere near it.

Alex, I saw it.

Like you saw the mice?

Hey, you've been

very, very nervous tonight.

Come on. Now, let's go to bed.

Sally.

Well it, it suddenly spun around

fell off the bedside table

on to the floor.

Did it smash?

To smithereens.

You probably knocked it off

with your elbow when you sat up.

That's what Alex said.

But I wasn't anywhere

near that ashtray.

I don't know,

maybe we do have mice.

Mice?

Last night when I was in the

kitchen, I thought I heard

something behind the trash can.

Don't, I don't wanna

hear about it.

I don't care

what women's lib tells me.

The very mention

of a mouse drives me crazy.

Well, the upshot

of this whole thing is

I hardly slept

a wink last night.

What does Alex say about that?

Well, he says my imagination's

working overtime.

And not forget the

hors d'Oeuvres for the party.

Which we mustn't.

Oh, by the way, I made

a list of some extra things

you might need for the party.

Oh, good, thanks.

- Sal?

- Yes?

Sit down.

I know this is none

of my business but..

Is everything all right?

You mean, between Alex and me?

Yes.

It's-it's fine.

It's just that...

What?

Alex is at a stage in his life

where all he thinks about is

his job and getting ahead.

What really scares me

is it may not be a stage.

Maybe it's permanent.

You think so?

I don't know.

It's just the, uh..

The possibility of a partnership

that's terribly important to

him, that's all he thinks about.

Well, isn't that understandable?

It's just most of the time

I feel like a reasonable adjunct

to his getting ahead.

Join the club.

What does that mean?

You forget who I'm married to?

George Kahn, better known

in the plastics business

as Genghis Kahn.

- You're kidding. George?

- Dear old quiet George.

I'm afraid I know rather well

what it's like to be left

by yourself to brood.

Also, I'm very good

at making emotional mountains

out of imaginary molehills.

Then you think

last night was imaginary?

- You want me to be honest?

- Yes, go ahead.

I think that's exactly

what it was.

So, as two neglected wives of

two overly ambitious husbands,

I suggest we go spend

some of their money.

All right.

First we'll get

the stuff for the party.

Then we'll storm

the department stores.

All right, let's stop off

in the china shop.

What for?

For one ashtray.

As smashed by

the powers of imagination.

Terrific.

Mr. Harris?

Well, what brings you

back to our favorite room?

I finished the living room

bookcases and figured I'd bring

my paint cans and brushes

down here out of the way.

You shouldn't have opened

it up, Mrs. Farmhand.

Well, I guess my curiosity got..

The better of me.

In future, you'd be

better off leaving it alone.

Mr. Harris,

you're as bad as I am.

Letting your imagination

run away with you.

Why has... something happened?

No, what would happen?

Anyway, you're quite right

about the fireplace.

My husband and I,

both looked at it

and it would be impossible

to open it up.

That's what I told you,

but you wouldn't listen.

Mr. Harris, I'm a perfect woman.

Stubborn and curious.

Would you like a cup of coffee?

No, thank you, Mrs. Farmhand.

I gotta be getting along.

Thank you.

We want you, Sally. We want you.

We want you. We want you.

We want you.

Is Mr. Farmhand there?

Left?

When?

No, no. Thank you.

Alex? Alex?

Alex, I know it sounds crazy,

but it was something like

this little ferocious animal

grabbed at my dress.

I heard all these little voices.

Look, Sally,

you gotta stop this.

Alex..

They were calling my name.

They kept saying

over and over again,

"We want you. We want you."

Sally, stop it!

Obviously it's Harris' idea

of some kind of a

crude practical joke.

- Where's the key?

- It's in the lock.

- That's where it was yesterday.

- Well, it's not there now.

I've had enough of this.

Mr. Harris.

Yes, Mr. Farmhand.

Look, I don't know

what's going on around here

but my wife

is very, very badly upset.

No, listen, hold on.

To begin with, you tell her all

those scary stories

about the study.

And then there's the business

about the ash door.

Now, first, you bolt it up

and then for no apparent..

Don't interrupt me.

And then,

for no apparent reason you..

You take the bolts out again.

No, no, no. No.

We haven't touched them, either.

We haven't touched the bolts.

And I know it didn't

get unbolted by itself.

Now, wait! I got

something to say to you.

There's a little matter

of a key missing.

Now, you've got

no excuse in the world

for taking the key

out of that door.

There's every... what?

What did he say?

He said that after he put

the bolts back in the ash door

and came upstairs with you,

he never touched them again.

He doesn't know anything

about the key, either.

He also said we could find

ourselves a new carpenter.

Why?

He was embarrassed, obviously,

and he feels guilty.

Well, I can't say that I'm

sorry. He's a very good worker.

It's just that dictatorial

attitude of his.

I don't think he did anything.

Well, who did?

I don't know.

That's what scares me.

Look, Sal, I know

you're under a lot of pressure.

The next couple of days

are very important.

We got that dinner party

tomorrow night

and I'm depending on you.

- I know.

- And this is absurd, anyway.

All these...

these little creatures running

around, calling your name

and grabbing

a hold of your dress.

But after the party,

you'll be gone.

Yeah. Yeah I'll be gone...

two days but only one night.

I put your ice in the freezer

so it wouldn't melt.

And your punch bowl's

there on the table. Oh..

Thanks, Ethyl.

Hi.

Oh, I'm sorry I scared you.

No, no, it's all right.

You're trembling.

You a little nervous

about the party?

Yes, I guess I am.

Are you sure you're all right?

Yes, I'm... really I'm fine.

Well, in spite of being nervous,

you look terrific.

Thanks.

Okay, hold it again.

Right there.

- Good!

- George, please, not now.

All right, later, then.

Sally! How are you?

Hello, Sally.

Hi. You look wonderful.

Vacation. A month in Mexico.

Oh, I envy you.

Listen, go right on in.

I think you know everybody.

I think so.

Hi, Sally. Great party.

- Thank you.

- Hi, Sally.

The house is marvelous.

I'm glad you like it.

- Hors d'oeuvre, Mrs. Farmhand?

- No, Ethyl, I-I don't think so.

Ethyl, thank you for coming

tonight and helping out.

That's all right, this way I can

make sure the catering people

clean up and don't leave

a mess for me in the morning.

Sally, darling,

the house is divine.

- Who did it?

- Francisco Perez.

And he did the flowers

and the candles, too?

Yes, he said if

we kept it dark enough,

no one would notice that

the house was half finished.

I think I could really use him.

- Mrs. Farmhand?

- Oh, no, thank you.

Um, I think I'll have

some of this punch.

I think the Randolph Trust

people will be pushovers, really.

Yeah, could be.

Hi, Sally. Nice party.

Thank you.

Well, tomorrow is a big day.

So I hear, San Francisco.

There's not a thing

to worry about.

Alex will come through

with flying colors.

I know he will.

How does it feel to be the wife

of a man with a great future?

Just great.

Um, will you excuse me? I have

to, um, check on the dinner.

Sally, hold again

for another one, please?

- George.

- Thank you.

The last thing anyone

needs right now

is to be blinded

by a flash bulb.

Now, would you please

get me another drink?

All right.

How are you feeling?

Oh, I'm bearing up.

Dinner is served, Mrs. Farmhand.

Thank you, Ethyl.

Dinner's ready, everyone.

Your names are

on those little cards.

Oh, Sally.

Hey, I understand you spent

a month in Mexico.

Don't remind me.

Really? Expensive, huh?

Alex has been

telling me about the house.

I think you've done a great job.

We're still in the middle of it.

Oh, here. Let me.

Oh, thank you.

Yes, it's been quite a hassle.

We had to sleep

in one of the spare rooms

and the dining room

isn't finished yet.

Alex!

Alex, please, Alex.

There was nothing there.

Nothing!

I saw it.

There were at least

10 other people around you,

including your friend Joan,

and they didn't see anything.

Maybe you oughta see

some kind of a doctor.

Do you think I'm making this up?

God only knows.

For some reason,

you suddenly don't seem

to like it around here.

You want out.

What does that mean?

I mean, it suddenly seems to me

that you don't like this house..

Now, I wanna ask you something.

Is this some roundabout way

of your telling me

that you want me

to sell this house?

Of course not.

I love this place,

you know that.

Then, what is it?

I told you before.

There's something going on here.

Oh, girl, I'm gonna

take you by the hand

inch by inch around this house

and show you there's

nothing to be afraid of.

Lousy attitude to take.

Oh, is it?

Is it?

You gonna be long?

No, it's all yours.

Hey, don't hurt her.

- Not yet.

- But I want to.

- I want to.

- No. No.

- Why?

- He'll hear... in the bedroom.

But I want to.

But I want to get her.

No. Wait until tomorrow.

Tomorrow, we'll get her.

- All of us.

- Then we just scare her, eh?

Yes, scare her.

Cut her.

All right then, scare her.

Scare her!

Maybe you oughta see

some kind of a doctor.

And this is absurd anyway.

All these, these little

creatures running around.

All I know, miss,

is what I told you before.

Some things are

better left as they are.

Alex, I think you're

right about this house.

I think we should sell it.

- You mean that?

- Yes, I do.

I really do.

No matter how much we..

We paint it or fix it up..

There's something

very depressing about it and..

Well, after a while,

it just seems to get to you.

Oh.

Sally.

Hey, if you really

feel that way..

We'll talk about it.

We'll talk about it

when I get back

from San Francisco, all right?

Thank you.

I mean, we've lived in

apartments before,

we can do it again.

Thank you for understanding.

You're welcome.

I think I'll read for a while.

- I'm gonna sleep now.

- Sleep well.

You too.

I won't wake you in the morning.

I'll let you sleep.

Goodnight.

Just a few more days

and I'll be safe.

- Tomorrow.

- Tomorrow we'll get her.

- Get her.

- Get her tomorrow.

- Tomorrow we'll get her.

- Yeah, we'll get her tomorrow.

Hi, Mr. Harris.

- How are you?

- Fine, thank you. How are you?

I just came by

to pick up my tools.

Oh, I think they're downstairs

in the study where you left 'em.

- Oh, thank you.

- Uh, Mr. Harris.

- Yeah?

- Uh..

I think I owe you an apology.

I was kinda rude and angry

on the phone the other day.

- Yeah, I reckon we both were.

- All right. Fair enough.

Hey, could I buy you

a cup of coffee?

- Maybe a quick one, then.

- Good.

Mr. Harris, I was wondering

if you'd reconsider.

By that, I mean

coming back here to work.

There still are some things

I'd like to get done.

I don't think it'd be

a good idea, Mr. Farmhand.

Why? Why, 'cause we had a beef?

No, no. That's all

over with and forgotten.

Well, then, why?

Sir, I have my way

of looking at things

and you and your wife

have yours.

And it's like I said before,

I think there are some things

that shouldn't be taken lightly.

About this house?

Why don't we stop

all that nonsense?

- I don't call it nonsense!

- All right, superstition.

And I don't call it

superstition, either!

Well, then, what do you call it?

I don't have a name for it,

but I wouldn't call it

either one of those things.

Look, Mr. Harris... I don't wanna

get in another beef with you,

and I don't mean

to offend you, sir..

But I don't happen

to believe in all that stuff!

I know you don't,

but it might be better for you

and Mrs. Farmhand if you did.

Well, that's where

you're wrong..

Because she's quite

frightened enough

already as it is.

And I've gotta hold you

partly responsible for that.

I only warned her.

Yeah, to the extent that

she wants to sell this place.

- Sell it?

- That's right. We're movin'.

I'd appreciate it if you'd

give me couple of weeks' work.

You know, it needs fixin' up.

I'm afraid not, sir,

and I'm sorry if I...

- You told him.

- Shit.

- You told.

- You told him.

- Why did you tell?

- I tell you, I didn't.

- You told him.

- I didn't tell. I didn't.

I-I, I didn't say anything.

- I didn't tell him anything!

- Why did you tell?

And you know what happens to

people who tell, don't you?

But I didn't. I didn't tell.

I, I just warned him.

That's all.

- Yeah, but you don't.

- Ah!

Come on! Open the door!

- Open the door.

- What's the matter?

The wind must have

blown the door shut.

I, I couldn't get it open.

What happened to you wrist?

Oh, that,

the light wasn't working

and I was trying

to find my flashlight

to get something

to open the door with.

I must have jabbed myself

with one of the tools.

- You gonna be all right?

- Yeah. Everything is all right.

Who was that?

It was Harris.

He forgot his tool box.

Oh, yes, I forgot.

He still angry with us?

Well, with him

it's hard to tell.

Hey, are you all right?

Yes, I think so.

Hey, why don't you call Joan

and ask her to come over

and spend the night with you?

- I think I will.

- Okay.

- Alex?

- What?

Oh, nothing.

- Just come back soon.

- I will. I will.

You take care of yourself.

Stop being so scared.

Yes, I feel much better.

Really.

Yes, he left about an hour ago.

Um, Joan, I wondered

if you could

come over here later?

I really don't wanna stay

in this house alone tonight.

Stay with you?

Oh, yes. That's

a much better idea.

I didn't wanna ask.

Are you sure it's all right?

Okay. Could you pick me

up around 4 o'clock?

All right. Thanks, Joan.

- Good morning, Ethyl.

- Good morning.

I hope there wasn't too much

of a mess after the party.

Mostly glasses, the catering people

took care of the rest.

Did you notice if there

were any candles left?

Uh, no. No, they took

that away with the rest of it.

Do we have any?

Well, uh,

just those birthday ones.

Oh, I'm afraid

those won't be enough.

Um, I'm going upstairs

to get dressed

and I'm gonna go out

for a while.

All right.

Is that Mr. Perez's

station wagon outside?

He's upstairs now.

He came with the samples

for the bedroom

curtains, finally,

and some bits of carpet.

Was it all right to let him in?

Oh, sure.

I guess I'll have

to go up and talk to him.

We won't be needing the curtains

or Mr. Perez, I'm afraid.

Why's that?

Well, my husband and I

have decided to move out.

We, uh, really don't

like this house and..

We're going to sell it.

Oh, my, after all

the work you've done here,

that's a pity.

But, uh, I can't say

I blame you.

I never did like

these old places myself.

Well, Ethyl, I, I hope you'll

continue to be with us,

wherever we are.

Well, well, I-I-I hope so, too.

I'll call you, Ethyl, and let

you know what our plans are.

All right.

Goodbye, Mrs. Farmhand.

- Goodbye.

- Thank you.

That's the most incredible

I've heard in my life.

Of course you have to pay.

I spent hours

on this job. Hours.

Wallpapers. Paintings.

Besides that, it was all that

work I did for your party. Oh!

Who are you?

- What do you want?

- We want you, Sally.

He was a mistake.

It's your spirit we need.

Your spirit we want.

- Your spirit. Your spirit.

- Why me?

Your spirit. You set us free.

Whoever frees us

must become one of us

and live with us.

Live with us.

Ma'am, if there's anything

else we need, we'll be in touch.

Thank you for

getting here so quickly.

Thanks for you cooperation.

- Goodnight.

- How is she?

- Ah, she's a little calmer.

I tried to get her to lie down,

but she, uh, she refused.

- I'll leave these with you.

- What are they?

Sleeping pills. Try to get her

to take one, if you can.

I don't think she will.

Tell me something..

You've know her

for some time now, haven't you?

Couple of years.

Does she tend to be

over-imaginative?

No. I've always thought her

as rather level-headed.

Well, I've realized this has

been a severe shock to her,

but she does seem

to have over-reacted.

I know.

Well, if you can, get her

to take one of those and..

Try to get her to bed.

I'll try. Thank you, doctor.

What are you doing?

I'm leaving.

- Where are you going?

- I don't know.

A hotel, anywhere. I just

want to get out of this house.

Why don't you wait

until Alex gets here,

then you can come to my house?

- No, I want to leave now.

- Well, that's silly.

Alex said he was catching

the 4 o'clock plane.

He's probably on his way

from the airport now.

I don't care.

I just don't want to stay

in this house any longer.

Listen, I made you

some coffee. Do you want it?

No, thank you.

Well, you better put these

in your suitcase.

- What are they?

- Sleeping pills.

The doctor asked me

to give them to you.

I don't, I don't want them.

Well, I'll put them here

in case you do.

I told you, I don't want them.

Sal?

I'm sorry.

You're exhausted.

Why don't you lie down,

try and relax,

and wait for Alex?

- I can't.

- He'll be here any minute.

- They killed him.

- Who?

What are you talking about?

Francisco Perez.

They tripped him with

a little piece of cord.

Who did?

He didn't really..

Fall down the stairs.

He tripped him with

a little piece of cord

when he came by the passageway.

Sally, don't do this.

You'll only upset

yourself again.

I was right behind him.

I-I saw the cord

and I grabbed it.

I pulled on it.

But they kept saying,

"It's you we really want."

Sally, please, don't.

I held onto it, but I couldn't.

Look.

How did you do that?

They did it with the cord.

You've got to believe me.

I think I do.

But I... doubt

if anyone else will.

I thought it was Alex.

Drink this coffee.

Be right back.

- I'm glad you're back.

- How is she?

Oh, hysterical,

but she's better now.

- Alex, I gotta talk to you.

- Not now!

There's something

going on in this house.

Sally says there's

something trying to kill her.

Whatever it was killed Perez

and is still trying to get her.

That's nonsense.

You don't believe that, do you?

- Yes, I do.

- Have you both gone mad?

- What's going on around here?

- Alex.

Sally?

Sally? Sally?

Alex.

Alex, please get me out of here.

Sally, what's going on?

What's going on,

Sal, what happened?

I don't know.

Alex, they're

t-trying to kill me.

Alex, I'm so tired.

Please help me get out of here.

Then I can be safe.

Joan, what did

the doctor give her?

Nothing. At least,

she didn't take anything.

She didn't take anything.

What's this?

Sleeping pills.

The doctor left them.

- Were they open?

- Yeah.

How many were there?

I think there were six.

There are only four left.

She obviously changed

her mind then, didn't she?

Or something changed it for her.

Oh, Joan.

Alex.

Sal? Sal?

What's this?

Look at the other one.

Joan..

You better tell me

what's going on.

- Come outside.

- All right.

Alex? Alex, don't-don't

turn off the light.

All right.

What happened to her hands?

All I know is what

Sally told me.

She says that Perez

tripped on the stairs,

and that something ripped

the cord out of her hands

when she held on to it.

- Joan, I really...

- Listen, Alex.

I think you've got a choice.

Either you accept

the fact that something

is going on in this house.

That some supernatural element

is trying to harm Sally.

Or you say that she's

having a mental breakdown

and that she's

just imagining everything.

Are you implying that

I'm trying to duck the truth?

Are you?

No, I'm trying

to find out what it is.

Well, I don't think

you're gonna find it

by insisting that

we're all crazy.

I'm sorry.

What about that carpenter?

Harris?

Sally said he told both of you

that there was something

wrong with this house.

- Yes, he did.

- What exactly did he say?

Nothing much.

Well, he gave me a warning.

He said, "Don't laugh at things

you don't understand."

That kind of a routine.

Alex, for Sally's sake,

I think you oughta talk to him.

Oh, no.

Please?

All right, all right.

I'll call him. See if he's home.

It's all right, it's only me.

Where's Alex?

Don't worry, he's downstairs.

We've got to get out of here.

I've got to get out of here.

Alex will take of everything.

Just, just try to relax

and rest for a while.

All right?

Yes, I... but a lot's happened

since then, Mr. Harris,

and I gotta find out

what's going on.

Yes. Yes, I'll make

it in ten minutes.

I'll be over there, yes.

What did he say?

He'll see me. Look, here's

the number in case you need me.

- Joan, you look awful beat.

- I'm okay.

I'm going to make

myself a cup of coffee.

Okay, I'll be back

as soon as I can.

Don't worry.

I'll take good care of her.

- Joan?

- It's okay, I'm here.

Where's Alex?

He'll be back soon.

- I wanna get up.

- Hey.

What happened?

Must be the wind.

Must've torn down a cable.

All I can tell you, Mr. Farmhand,

is what I pieced together

myself over the years.

You mean, since Sally's

grandparents lived in the house.

That's right.

He, Mr. Bennett,

that is, and his wife

bought the house

when he retired.

Seems like he was somewhat

of an amateur carpenter.

Guess you might call him

one of the original.

"Do it yourselfers."

And, just like your wife,

he wanted to use

that downstairs room as a study.

It was him who

opened up the fireplace.

Then the place was

already bricked up

when they bought it?

That's right.

And the ash door

was bolted up, too.

From what I've heard since,

that fireplace hadn't been used

since the house was built,

back in the the 1880's.

We need some fuses.

Could have

overloaded the circuits.

I turned on every

light in the house.

I'll go down and look.

No, Joan, you,

you can't go down there.

Joan, don't.

Sally, just keep

the candles burning.

Everything will be all right.

Where's the fuse box?

It's... it's outside

by the back door.

And the spare fuses?

I guess Alex keeps

them in the box.

Alex is at this number.

Come up.

I want you

to call him there now,

and keep talking to him..

Until I get back,

do you understand?

I'll be back in a minute.

Mr. Bennett..

When he opened that fireplace..

What happened to him?

Hello?

Hello, is Alex there?

Hello? Hello?

Hello?

I think it was your wife.

She was asking for you,

but she hung up.

Sally, I'm locked out!

Sally.

All I know is

what one of the maids told me.

She said that

one evening, Mr. Bennett

went down to that room

to do some work.

Now, he hadn't been in there

more than half an hour.

Then his wife upstairs heard

cries and terrible screams.

- Sally.

Come, Sally.

Sally.

Well, she and the servants

ran down the stairs.

The door was locked,

but they broke it down.

Everything in that

room was wrecked.

Are you telling me..

That something reached up

through that fireplace

and pulled that old man

down through the hole?

That's all I can

tell you, Mr. Farmhand.

And I think..

That's where he is now.

We've been waiting

for you, Sally.

Sally.

We're waiting.

Sally.

Sally, we want you.

Sally.

Come along.

Sally, help me!

Help me, I can't get in!

- Sally.

Sally, we're waiting for you.

Sally.

- Sally.

Sally.

Come to us.

- Sally.

- We're waiting.

- Sally.

- Come to us.

Sally?

Sally, can you hear me?

Sally, open up!

Sally?

Sally, let me in.

I'm locked out.

Sally?

Can't you hear me?

I'm locked out!

Come, Sally.

Come to us.

We're waiting for you.

Come to us.

We need you.

Sally.

Come, Sally.

- No, please.

- We got her.

- Don't..

- We got her.

Help me.

We got her.

Don't.

Alex.

A-Alex, help.

Thank heaven you're here.

I can't get in.

The door's bolted from inside.

Sal.

Sally!

Will anyone come?

Do you think they'll come?

Will anyone come

and set us free?

Of course they will come.

We know they will.

But when? When? When?

Soon. Very soon.

We have lots of time.

Lots of time.

All the time in the world.

- Time.

Time to set us free again.

All the time in the world.

- To set us free.

- TO set us free.

TO set us free on the world.

- Free..

- Free On the world.

- Free..

- Free On the world.

Set us free.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (1973) - full transcript

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