Don't Look in the Basement (1973) - full transcript
Nurse Charlotte Beale arrives at the isolated Stephens Sanitarium to work, only to learn that Dr. Stephens was murdered by one of the patients and his successor, Dr. Geraldine Masters, is not very eager to take on new staff. Charlotte finds her job maddeningly hard as the patients torment and harass her at every turn, and she soon learns why Dr. Masters is so eager to keep outsiders out.
SERGEANT JAFFEE: Now, look here, I
just heard them, Sam.
It's got to be them, Sam.
It's almost 1930 hours.
They would have
left an hour ago.
I think that's them.
Hear them, Sam?
Real low.
Watch.
Above those. trees.
They're really coming, sergeant.
You wait.
They do this every night.
Sam, what's that?
Right through there.
SAM: I don't like it when you
say they're coming, sergeant.
It scares me!
- It's all right, Sam.
It's all right, now.
- Should I tell him, Jane?
- Yes and you both come
away from the window.
It's been longer
than 10 minutes.
- Sergeant Jaffee, Jane
says it's all right.
Come on.
It's all right.
Jane, if they do
come will I see them?
- No one has ever seen them, Sam.
Now let's not be late for
supper again, shall we?
- (SINGING) Baby.
Baby.
- Supper's in a few
minutes, Harriet.
You'll have to leave
your baby here.
You know the rules
in the dining room.
Later you can come back
to her when you finish.
- Don't touch my baby.
Don't you ever
touch my baby again.
- All right, Harriet.
I won't touch your baby.
- You better not or you know
what will happen to you.
I'll kill you.
I swear to God, I'll kill you.
[IMITATING BOAT ENGINE]
- Ready to eat, Sam?
- Well, every night Dr.
Stephens makes me eat the soup.
I bet you don't know how many
kinds of soup I've eaten.
Come on, guess.
(LAUGHING) I don't know, Sam.
- Oh Jane, when can we
put my boat in the water?
- Sam, there's something
I've got to tell you.
We've been friends
for a long time now,
but I'm going to
have to leave now.
I'm going to have
to say goodbye.
- Goodbye?
That means you're going
to leave me, Jane.
We can't play with the boat?
- I'm sorry.
Oh I'll miss you, Sam.
But I just can't
take this any longer.
Oh I know you don't understand.
When you're ready
come eat your supper.
I'll be in to join you later on.
Right now, I have to go
and talk to Dr. Stephens.
- Hey Jennifer.
Jennifer.
Janey's going away.
Would you help me put
my boat in the water?
I bet Janey didn't say
goodbye to you neither.
I betcha.
[BLOWS RASPBERRY]
- (SOFT TONE) Baby.
Baby.
- Aw.
[LOUD LAUGHING]
I'm going to tell on you.
Leave me along!
(ANGRILY) Don't touch my baby!
I'll kill you if you--
Get away from my baby!
I'll kill you!
[CRYING]
Janey!
Get out of my way!
My baby!
He's taken my baby!
DR. STEPHENS: Now
use the axe, Judge.
Listen to me, Judge.
Use the axe, Judge!
Go ahead, Judge.
Use the axe!
Use it.
Again, Judge.
Once more, again.
Strike out.
Harder, Judge.
Now again.
That's it, Judge.
Hit it again and again!
Strike it!
- Dr. Stephens, I
must speak to you.
- Yes, what is it, Janey?
He's doing very well.
Can you sense how each
stroke reaches down
freeing some part
of his conflict.
Perhaps that's the solitude
of the unconscious brain
that he's reaching.
Reach for it, Judge.
- Dr. Stephens!
- Yes.
Doctor, I've come to a
decision about all this.
I just-- I just can't
take it any longer.
Harriet threatened
me again tonight.
I'm leaving.
And said you had someone
else coming out tonight?
Someone to help?
- I can't accept
that decision Janey.
You're a professional.
I won't allow you to do it.
[SCREAMING]
- Put it down, Judge.
[SCREAMING]
Put it down, Judge.
Put it down!
[SCREAMING]
- Judge!
Judge!
Put it down, Judge.
Put it down!
That's right.
Oh god.
How'd this happen?
- (CRYING) I don't know.
- Get out of here!
Judge.
Judge, I'm not going
to do anything foolish.
Get the axe, Sam.
Very quietly, we're going
to walk into the house.
Come on, Judge.
Don't look at Dr. Stephens.
I'm going to help you.
Come on, quietly.
Quietly.
Calmly.
That's right, into the house.
I'm coming with you.
That's right, Judge.
Sam, put the axe
down on the ground.
Sam.
Sam, listen to me.
From now on,
I'm going to take
care of the family.
I'm going to take
care of Cameron,
and Janey and all the others.
Do you understand?
- But Janey's leaving.
- Oh.
All right, listen to me.
I'll be back in a few
minutes to tell you
what to do with Dr. Stevens.
Do you understand me?
I'm coming, Judge.
That's right, quietly.
Calmly.
- Don't cry, baby.
Don't cry.
I'll get your bottle.
Here's your--
Danny!
My baby!
Danny!
Danny!
My Baby!
Danny!
My baby!
What have you done with my baby!
Danny!
- Harriet, what's wrong?
- Thank you.
- Harriet, what's wrong?
- What have you done
to my baby, Jane?
- Nothing.
- You took my baby.
- No!
- You took my child!
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
- Hello.
[KNOCK ON DOOR
Hello.
Dr. Stephens.
- The lady.
DR. MASTERS: Go to
your room now, Sam.
Have you been
standing there long?
- Why no.
In fact, I just
this minute came in.
I didn't see anyone.
- I'm Dr. Masters.
It's Geraldine Masters.
Am I expecting you?
- Well, perhaps Dr. Stephens
hasn't mentioned my coming.
I'm sorry.
I'm Charlotte Beale,
RN, psychiatric therapy.
- Beale?
- Yes, I'm to get
settled in tonight.
I'm starting with Dr. Stephens
first thing in the morning.
- Well, perhaps you'd
better go into my office.
This way.
Have a seat.
Now, would you mind telling
me again just who you are
and exactly what
you're doing here?
- Dr. Masters, I'm
sorry you haven't
been informed about my coming.
You see, Dr. Stephens hired me,
oh about a week ago, I think.
Yes, on the 20th.
I heard about Dr. Stephens
unusual psychiatric methods and
called for an interview.
He liked my training
and background
and said he was terribly
short on qualified help
and asked if I would start
this next week, which is today.
- Now, now, just wait
a minute Ms. Beale.
First of all, I was not
informed about your coming here.
And secondly, I feel sure that
Dr. Stephens would have brought
this up with me if he'd
reached a decision about you.
- Dr. Masters, certainly
there can't be a mistake
or perhaps it's just
an oversight and--
- That's just the
point Ms. Beale.
Dr. Stephens would not have
made an oversight, not about
something as important as
him increasing our staff,
not when there just three of us.
Well, normally three
of us on the staff.
- You know, perhaps
I really should
go in and see the doctor.
He's expecting me.
- Ms. Beale.
I have something very
unpleasant to tell you.
We've had a tragedy here.
We've lost Dr. Stephens.
He was viciously attacked
by one of the patients
and he died shortly afterwards.
So you could see
that this is just not
the time to discuss any of this.
Well surely, you can understand
how his death has greatly
changed things and naturally
I've taken over in his place.
But since I wasn't informed
about your coming here,
I feel no need to keep
any minor commitment
that he may have made.
Well, certainly not now.
You see, I'm uh, I'm changing
some administrating objectives
and uh what Dr.
Stephens had in mind,
may not be exactly what
I'm planning, well not now.
- I just can't believe
Dr. Stephens is dead.
- We have to accept
that, Ms. Beale.
I just don't believe you could
be of any help right now.
- Dr. Masters, I gave
up a perfectly good job
to come here.
They wanted me to
stay but I left.
- What place are
you talking about?
- Green Park General Hospital.
I'm a supervisor of
a psychiatric ward.
- I'm not questioning
your qualifications.
Did Dr. Stephens talk with your
supervisor about your leaving?
- Oh I'm sure he did, besides
I showed them this letter
of acceptance from Dr. Stephens.
- Then they knew about
your coming here then?
- Why yes.
- Do you uh, have any place
to go in the hemisphere?
- Well, frankly no.
Unless of course, Green Park
would consider taking me back.
I suppose I could tell
them what's happened here.
About Dr. Stephens.
And about you're taking over.
Perhaps, they would make
some sort of consideration--
- Ms. Beale.
Frankly, I have a very
difficult decision.
There have been some
abnormal reactions
with a few of the patients.
Dr. Stephens trusted them.
He treated them as if
he were their father.
So realistically, this has
been a death in the family.
Now my job is to
recreate that trust.
I doubt there is that Green
Park would take you back.
It'd be very awkward trying
to explain all of this.
So uh, well since you're here
and Dr. Stephens did make
the commitment,
I guess you might
as well start in the morning.
- Thank you, Dr. Masters.
- And you must understand
that I'm not offering you
anything of a permanent nature.
It takes a very special
attitude to work here.
- Dr. Stephens told me that.
- Dr. Stephens believed that
Insanity was not a breaking
away from reality but rather
a very complex
series of obsessions.
psychiatrists have always
tried to reverse that and bring
a patient back to
normalcy, but Dr.
Stephens believed the opposite.
He believed that these
obsessions could be pushed,
forced to grow so large so
ominous that the patient would
have to use his own
strength to destroy them.
- Really?
That's a very
interesting theory.
- We have been very
simply here Ms. Beale,
our patients are all
people who are unloved,
unwanted, forgotten.
So we're a family, their
family and everyone
helps with the chores.
Well now, I'll show
you to your room.
I'm afraid there's
no connecting bath.
- I'll take it.
- Thank you.
- Well, this is it.
I hope you'll be comfortable.
I have a lot of
things to do now,
so if you'll come into
my office in the morning
we can go over your routine.
- Thank you, Dr. Masters.
- Goodnight.
- Oh, Dr. Masters.
Where are the patient's rooms?
- Well they're right next
to yours and upstairs.
As I said before, we're a
family and it's for that reason
they're no locks on
any of the doors.
Dr. Stephens didn't
believe in the doctor,
patient relationship.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
[MANIACAL LAUGHING]
[LOUDER MANIACAL LAUGHING]
[GASPING]
- Good evening, deary.
You never should go rushing
around like this alone.
(WHISPERING) Get out.
Get out.
And never, never
come back, never.
- Get out?
Why, get out?
There's no reason.
- Oh, there's plenty reasons.
- My name is Charlotte.
What's yours?
- Up the airy mountain.
Down the rushing glen.
You never can go hunting
for fear of little men.
[LOW MANIACAL LAUGHTER]
- Good morning, Harriet.
These are just a few
of our little family.
You'll have an opportunity
to meet them all later.
Danny, behave!
(SOFTER TONE) Behave.
- Oh it's true.
Dr. Stephens tells
me what he wants.
HARRIET: (SYMPATHETIC TONE) Sam.
- He's very sad this morning.
HARRIET: Why is he sad, Sam?
- Because.
Everything's changed now.
Like that Ms. Charlotte.
And there's some others.
- My baby's very sleepy.
Very sleepy.
Charlotte's name is Ms. Beale.
That's what you're
supposed to call her.
- Dr. Stephens calls
her Ms. Charlotte.
He's very worried this morning.
Oh hush up, Sam.
Leave us alone.
- Sam.
- Janey didn't say
goodbye to you.
She wasn't your friend.
- Sam.
It's time.
Are you ready?
- Oh shoot, sergeant.
Do I have to?
Oh, all right.
- Prisoners inside.
Guard that door carefully.
- All right, sergeant.
Where do you want me to stand?
Right here?
- That's right.
And you'll not leave it.
Oh sergeant.
Are you coming back?
- That's Danny.
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
Yes?
- The guard is posted, sir.
- Jennifer?
- Yes.
The prisoner is secure, sir.
- Thank you, sergeant.
- That was Sam's friend, Jaffee.
- Yes, we call him Sergeant.
Difficult case.
War.
He was or is a real sergeant.
His uh, platoon
was lost in combat
because of something he did.
His prisoner, as he calls
her, is Jennifer Downey.
I want you to, uh watch
her very carefully.
Spend some time with her.
Several times she has
attempted to escape.
- Escape?
- In the sergeant's jargon,
to uh break confinement.
Sam, I told you not to
interrupt me when I'm busy.
But Dee, what you
want me to do with--
- Now Sam, I'll talk
to you about it later.
Go on.
- And that's Sam.
- Sam.
Sam is a lovable child.
He's been a patient of Dr.
Stephens for several years.
Dr. Stephens operated on him
three, no four years ago.
Dr. Stephens allowed me to
assist him in that operation.
Drilling through the frontal
lobe left Sam harmless,
but with the mentality
of an eight year old.
That was the last lobotomy
Dr. Stephens ever did.
And it was because
of that operation
that Dr. Stephens
turned from surgery
to his obsession
development theory.
- Tell me about Allyson King,
- Allison.
Now let's see.
Allyson has had a
very unfortunate past.
She was very close to her
father and died when she was 13.
Then her mother remarried
a man that Allyson
absolutely cherished
and he left.
And that was the
beginning of the pattern.
Allyson tried to love other men.
They were cruel to
her and they left
her and she almost gave up.
- It's a classic
pattern, isn't it?
- Then Allyson met a man
thought he was perfect.
He loved her and
they lived together.
But he used her.
He sold her to other men.
Well, her love for him smoothed
that over, but then someone
came along who was younger and
prettier and he threw her out
and that was the breaking point.
- What is her attitude now?
- She craves love desperately,
from anyone, everyone.
- And these others,
Harriet and Mr. Cameron.
- Judge Cameron.
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
Jurists council.
Judicator of the
Court of Appeals.
Doctor of jurisprudence.
What are you doing in my room?
- Well I really dig
all that mumbo jumbo.
You know it teaches quality.
- I said order.
- Strawberries.
Do you like strawberries?
- Ripe strawberries are
the color of blood.
- Taste me.
Please.
Taste me.
I can be anything you want.
- To be carnal in
minded is death.
- Come on.
I do taste like strawberries.
Taste me!
- Shroud your nakedness!
You're obscene!
[SPEAKING INCOHERENTLY]
- You freak.
You don't want to be touched
because you are too damned big!
You phony freak.
You're trembling look at ya.
You're hot for it but
you can't reach out.
You can't reach out.
You can't love.
You can't make it.
(HIGH PITCHED
SCREAMING) But I can.
- Rejection can be a
very painful experience.
- Well, I'll tell you
about the others later,
but right now I'd like you to
start with Mrs. Callingham.
- Oh yes, Mrs.
Callingham is the one
who occasionally hallucinates.
- Oh yes, she has a number
of interesting worlds.
Why don't you take
her for a walk.
She likes the flowers.
She sometimes think
they're her children.
- It's pleasant here, don't
you think Mrs. Callingham?
Do you get out often?
- It's you who needs to get out.
- Yes I remember.
You were going to tell me why.
- Oh uh.
Up the airy mountain.
Down the rushing glen.
We cannot go a hunting
because of the little men.
Oh Bobby.
Ellen.
Lester.
- Operator.
Operator.
Oh, Sam.
I didn't hear you come in.
- Dr. Stephens.
He don't call on
the phone anymore.
- Sam, I know how much
Doctor Stephens liked you.
- Dr. Stephens wants us happy.
He said I should tell you.
- Sam, I understand.
Dr. Stephens is still
very real for you.
- Oh Ms. Charlotte, I forget what
the doctor told me to tell you.
I knew it a minute ago.
- Oh it's all right.
I understand.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
DR. MASTERS: Come in.
- Sorry to bother you
when you're busy.
- Oh that's all right.
Have a chair.
- It's about my phone.
- Well, patients seem
to be accepting you.
That's important.
I suppose you'd notice that it
's the little things that count
most, with especially
Danny and of course Sam.
- You're very fond
of Sam, aren't you?
- Yes, very.
Dr. Stephens was very
close to him too.
Sam's lost his intelligence,
but he has very deep feelings.
Perhaps deeper than ours.
- Oh Dr. Masters.
- Don't be alarmed.
This is Jennifer.
Occasionally, she
becomes very withdrawn
and naturally I'd like her to
be with me when that happens.
- Is she beyond help?
- Beyond help?
To say that means we have
given up and we never give up.
No one is beyond that's why
we're always getting closer.
- Yes, of course.
Please don't misunderstand.
- No, no I understand.
Well, it's time to
be getting into bed.
I promised her that
I would read to her.
Would you mind
seeing to the others?
- No, of course not.
Dr. Masters, I
hope you'll forgive
my statement about Jennifer.
I simply meant that I--
- It's just that
you're not quite used
to all of our little
family yet, Ms. Beale.
One day you'll be as close to
them as brothers and sisters.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Dr. Masters.
Before I forget.
I wanted to tell you that
my phone is not working.
I was wondering if you were
having the same trouble.
- No.
That occasionally happens.
I'll try to take care of it.
- Goodnight.
HUMMING LULLABY]
- Goodnight Harriet.
- She's asleep.
- And it's time you
should be asleep too.
Goodnight.
That's enough for
tonight, Mrs. Callingham.
- You liked that walk in
the garden, didn't you?
- I did.
- Well don't be surprised
if we never go again.
- Don't mind my observing.
You handle Mrs.
Callingham very well.
Better than some of the others.
- Good morning, Jennifer.
Mrs. Callingham.
[LOW CRYING]
- Mrs. Callingham.
Your tongue has been cut out!
DR. MASTERS: Take it easy.
Here, drink this.
- No.
- Look you've got to
understand that ours
is a family of persons
who know very few limits.
Even the limits
of physical pain.
When Mrs. Callingham
did this to herself
she was probably beyond the
threshold of physical feeling.
My greatest concern about her
is the blood that she's lost.
She's very weak.
- I don't hold up
very well, do I?
I'm sorry.
It's just the thought
of our all being asleep.
- She was probably hallucinating.
Self infliction of pain,
self disfigurement,
sometimes that indicates
that the patient
has transcended the body.
- Oh, what would
Dr. Stephens have
done in a case such as this?
- Exactly as I'm doing.
Calling as little attention
to it as possible.
Now she's received treatment.
Now she has to accept
what she's done.
For the time being,
I wouldn't discuss
this with any of the others.
- Dr. Masters.
Aren't you ever afraid?
- I'm always afraid.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
- Hello.
Anybody here?
Hello.
Well hello there.
Hello there.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
Oh hello there.
Uh how are you?
- I don't believe we've
been properly introduced.
- Uh well I'm the
uh telephone man.
My name is Ray.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
Well, lady I hope
that isn't catching.
So you've got some trouble
with your telephone?
Uh could you show me
where the equipment is?
- What trouble are you
talking about, sir?
- Well, I don't know yet.
It's something with
your voltage drop.
Oh never mind I
will find it myself.
Say, how come you
people didn't call?
I mean about the telephone.
It can't be working.
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
Jurists council.
Judicator of the
Court of Appeals.
Doctor of jurisprudence.
- Well that's got to
be some big problem.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
What's the matter with her?
Cat got her tongue?
- I warn you.
Heed the lady's advice.
- What did she say?
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
- She said,
You're being here
represents grave danger.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
- Poor lady, I'm sorry.
I mean I didn't know.
She ain't got no tongue.
- Objection overruled!
- That is immaterial.
Irrelevant and
Out of order
- Oh they let you people just
wander around down here, huh?
Hey buddy, how about you give
me back my screwdriver, huh?
- I'll conduct you
to my chambers.
- No, no, no that,
that's quite all right.
Look, here's what we will do.
You people just wait right here.
OK?
Then I'll go and find
the equipment, all right?
And if I'm not back
in 3 minutes, then
you people can go and hide.
OK?
That's an awful virus
you got there, lady.
- Who are you and exactly how
did you enter this building?
- Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
First, which way are you?
I mean this way or that way?
- I don't know what
you're talking about.
I want to answer my question.
- I'm sorry doctor, it's just
that you got so many twilight
people around here,
you know and--
- Exactly what are you
intending to do here?
- It's your phone.
I mean we've been getting
some strange readings
on your voltage lately
and well I just came out
to check it as
quickly as I could
and get the hell out of here.
- Why didn't you inform
me of your coming here?
- How can I inform you?
You ain't got no telephone.
You've got bouncers
on every door
and a receptionist that
ain't got no tongue.
What's there to inform?
- That's enough of
your impertinence.
You have absolutely
no right to enter
this building without
my permission.
- So what am I going to do?
I'm supposed to
fix the telephone.
You want me to fix the phone You
don't want me to fix the phone.
It don't matter to me.
I'm just the phone man.
Now I drove for an
hour to get out here.
You tell me.
All right, this way.
- Tell you what, I'll finish
this up as quick as I can, then
I won't be bothering
you again, ever.
- The wiring is in this closet.
Please don't leave the area.
I'll be back in a few minutes to
escort you out of the building
and under no
circumstances are you
to have anything more to do
with any of the patients.
Now is that understood?
- Whatever you say, doc.
I'm just trying to help.
You know what I mean?
Hi.
I'm uh fixing the telephone.
- That shouldn't
take too long, huh?
- Na.
One of the lines was cut.
It'll just take a minute.
You uh, do understand
me, don't you?
- You know I used to
live this place where
the phone man was
always coming around.
- Oh yeah?
That bad, huh?
- That good.
- I thought you meant
that, that y'all had
a lot of phone trouble.
- Hell, I didn't
even have a phone.
Who let you in anyway, honey?
- Uh I don't know her name.
The doctor, I guess.
- She let you in?
- Yes, sort of.
She is the boss, isn't she?
- You know, um you know
you're kind of handsome.
What's your name?
Now look honey, I'm
just a telephone man.
- Don't be afraid.
- Look sweetheart, uh
you're a good looking gal
and all that but
this ain't my bag.
Not in the closet, it
ain't, Now cut it out.
I ain't even supposed to be
talking to you or nothing.
[UNZIPS ZIPPER]
- Don't back away from me.
You love me.
You do love me.
Say it.
- All right already, I love you.
Now cut it out, huh?
- Oh.
You love me.
You do love me.
Oh I'm a princess.
I'm a princess to men that
can't turn away from me.
They grasp me and
kiss my breasts.
Don't push me away!
You said you love me!
You said that you love me!
- Now cut it out!
- Love is pure.
Love is grace.
Love is strength.
You'll love me.
Your love is pure.
You'll always love me.
[ALLYSON MOANING]
TELEPHONE MAN: Now
look what you've done.
SAM: (SINGING) I
have got a secret.
I have got a secret.
And I ain't gonna tell
nobody but Ms. Charlotte.
- You're doing fine
now Mrs. Callingham,
but you need to rest.
You've been up and
around too much.
- (ANGRILY) Give me
that watch, Danny.
- You hurt me.
- I'm sorry, Danny.
I'm sorry.
You shouldn't have scared me.
You won't tell me,
will you, Danny?
You won't tell on me, would you?
[SCREAMING]
- Jennifer, stop it!
Stop it!
Jennifer!
Stop it!
[JENNIFER CRYING]
Allyson, help me!
Jennifer, stop it!
[JENNIFER WHINING LOUDLY]
[GASPING]
[LOUD BREATHING]
- Jennifer's all right.
I, I don't know what happened.
- (CRYING) Why did
she do it, doctor?
I thought you said
Jennifer was withdrawn.
- Withdrawal was an acute
reaction to her real condition.
- Dr. Masters.
Perhaps I shouldn't
have come here at all.
- I don't think there's
any point in our talking
about your leaving, Ms. Beale.
You forget you were very
anxious to take this job.
I made Special provisions
for you to be here.
(HYSTERICALLY CRYING)
I realize that,
but I don't know what to do.
- I'm the doctor and
you're the nurse
and what I do decides
what you will do.
- I'm all right now.
I just need to get some rest.
JUDGE: Many uncaring left me
carrying and the livid one.
Many will sell our skin left for
the white tailed eagle to care.
Left for the horn
neck raven to render.
And gave to the garbage
war hole to gorge
it and that great beast
the will for the world.
- Some night soon, the doctor's
going to help you Cameron.
- Gibberish.
- The doctor will help you.
- Masters has nothing to give me.
- I ain't talking about Deeny.
- I doubt that you know what
it is you are talking about.
I should go.
- Dr. Stephens knows
Ms. Charlotte and Ms.
Charlotte knows Dr. Stephens.
That's right.
He's going to help her too.
He don't want her here just now.
Deeny wants her though.
Deeny told me.
- Of course Masters doesn't
want Beale to leave, you idiot!
- Sometimes, Doctor Stephens
tells me about Ms. Charlotte.
I killed Dr.
Stephens with my axe.
[LAUGHTER]
DR. MASTERS: Sam.
Sam
What are you doing in here?
You haven't finished
your chores.
I want you to go
sweep the kitchen.
- Then can I have a Popsicle?
- Yes, you can have a Popsicle.
Ah, Sam's beautiful,
isn't he, Judge?
No past, no future,
only the present.
For him Dr. Stephens will
always be in the present.
Wish we could all
think of him that way.
Judge.
Judge, your floor is dirty.
Now it's your responsibility
to keep your room clean
and I want you to
take care of it now!
- You had a real baby
once, didn't you honey?
- This is my baby.
- Jeez, I feel sorry for you.
You really think
that's a real baby.
- Baby.
- Knock it off!
You moron!
- Allison.
Allison, you got very
nice hair and nice skin.
You're soft.
I like you.
[MANIACAL LAUGHING]
[ALLYSON CRYING]
[DANNY LAUGHING MANIACALLY]
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
Judicator of the court
of special sessions.
Please examine the evidence.
- Judge, would you've
done that to me?
- My name is Oliver W.
- I'm asking you.
- My name--
- Judge--
- Is--
- Please love me.
I need somebody to love me.
- Don't touch me!
- You're all alike.
Danny, Jaffee, I love you.
And you trying to be
so high and mighty.
Get out!
No, no, please, I
need you to help me.
About something else I mean.
I know you can keep a secret.
Judge, I've got me a man.
Yeah, I saw him yesterday.
Right here.
Oh he's sweet with beautiful--
I think maybe he's gone.
I think maybe he's looking
for me and he can't find me.
He's the most beautiful man
anywhere and he loves me.
- You always did have
an eye for such things.
- Judge, he wants
me. (WHISPERING)
Please help me find him.
- Naturally, I must weight this
new evidence very carefully.
- (CRYING) Oh Judge, please.
- Hi sarge.
Let me see.
Back off, they're on their way.
- Let me see.
- Move it!
- There's nothing there.
You're crazy!
- Get out!
[LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER]
- What was that
shouting all about?
Sergeant.
I've told every one of you
about this sort of thing
but you refuse to
adhere to my discipline.
Haven't I told you
what time the lights
are to be out in every room?
- Yes sir, you have.
I take it then that you're
contesting my discipline.
Is that it?
Answer me.
My authority here
in the sanitarium
is going to remain
absolute, unchallenged
and totally unimpeachable.
Do you understand?
Hold out your hand.
I hate to punish anyone.
I loathe it.
My domain here is going to
never be challenged again.
Do you understand?
My office, my
profession, my charge,
my liability, my
suffering for your good.
Never to take the fine balance
of all that, ever again.
Goodnight, sergeant.
- (CHEERFULLY) Good morning, Sam.
What could be troubling
you this early?
- A whole lot of
things, Ms. Charlotte.
- Oh.
Such as what?
- Dr. Stephens.
He's worried about things.
- Oh, I see.
- He wanted me to talk to you.
- What have you got there?
Where did you get this?
Who gave you this, Sam?
- He said you'd know.
You'd understand.
He wants to help
you, Ms. Charlotte.
- Who wants to help me?
What are you talking about?
- The doctor.
- Oh, Dr. Stephens I suppose.
Well thank you very
much, Sam, but I
think we should talk less
foolishly about all this.
- I'm the only one who can
tell you, Ms. Charlotte.
Dr. Stephens is
going to help you.
You should take the watch.
NURSE BEALE: This
kind of day seems
to take away all your troubles.
For a while anyway.
Do you have a family, Danny?
I thought you mentioned
your mother once.
Where did you live
when you were young?
- Miami Beach.
- Oh yes.
Your mother was in
business wasn't she?
- Yeah.
a massage parlor.
- I remember.
- This is for you.
- Thank you, Danny.
I guess it's time
we should go in.
- Sure.
[MANIACAL LAUGHTER]
[SCREAMING]
- He needs watching.
I'm sure you know.
We can be sure there
will be other times.
Other times for other things.
Unlike your friend Danny, I
choose only perfect moments.
Perfect moments to work out
perfect destinies for so many
lives.
- (WHISPERING) Get out.
I believe there will
be a more perfect time.
- Two vials of lithium
bicarbonate and one vial
of Verbactal
You're sure they're missing?
- Very sure.
They were taken from
a new container.
- Well, this is
really quite serious.
Have you checked all the rooms?
- Well just about, except
for Danny's and Jennifer's.
- But you have checked
Cameron's and Jaffee's.
- I checked those first.
- Well, I'll have to go through
all of this personally.
Thank you.
- I got to tell Deeny.
Deeny!
[CRYING]
[SCREAMING]
- Deeny!
Deeny!
- What is it, Sam?
- I can't find her.
I can't find her anywhere.
I've got to find her.
- Well what is it?
What do you want with her?
- I've got to show her, down
where I got the Popsicle.
What is it?
What's down there?
Come on.
I'll show you.
- Sam, I don't have
time to play right now.
I'm busy.
- (WHISPERING) Come on.
Come on.
I'll show you.
Come on.
She ain't here, but
I'm gonna show you.
- Sam, what is this?
- Come on.
- Are you just putting me on?
[SCREAMING]
(CRYING) Oh God!
No!
He loved me.
Sweet Jesus Christ!
Oh he loved me!
[CRYING]
- Allyson!
What's wrong?
[ALLYSON CRYING]
Allyson, calm down!
Tell me what's wrong.
Calm down.
What's wrong, Allyson?
Calm down and tell
me what's wrong.
- She killed him.
She killed him.
- Who are you talking about?
- He loved me.
He told me that he
loved me and she
killed him because he loved me.
Masters.
Masters killed him because
he loved me, Charlotte.
She's a murdering crucifying
same insane maniac!
She's insane, Charlotte!
- Dr. Masters?
- She's no doctor!
She's just like the rest of
us here and she killed him.
You didn't know that, did you?
She's a patient of Dr. Stephens.
She's a schizophrenic
just like me.
She can't control her
emotions anymore than I can.
- Where is Dr. Masters now?
- Oh Ms. Charlotte.
- I remember you
told me who he was.
- Charlotte, you've
got to believe me.
All these things that have been
happening since you came here.
Masters did it.
She cut out Mrs.
Callingham's tongue!
And she killed my man!
Masters did it!
- How do you know?
- She's a patient like me,
Dr. Stephens' patient.
She pretended to be a doctor.
He let her play and
she was pretending
when you came and you
believed her, Charlotte.
- No that's not true, Allyson.
- Oh yes it is true.
Why do you think she
won't let you leave?
Why do you think she
wouldn't let anybody in?
Anybody who threatens to
expose her, Charlotte.
She'll kill them!
- How do you know?
- She'll kill anybody that
threatens to expose her
and she'll kill you!
- OK.
OK.
[ALLYSON CRYING]
- Mrs. Callingham why do
you sneak around like this?
Mrs. Callingham,
who did this to you?
Your tongue.
- Ma--
- It was her?
It was Masters?
Oh God!
It's true?
She's a patient here?
A patient of Dr. Stephens?
Oh my God.
- Judge!
- Stay away from me.
- Is it true?
Is it true about Masters?
- Then you know too.
- I've got to hear
it from all of you.
You know already.
It's too late.
We know about you.
- About me?
- We've been informed about you.
The verdict is unanimous.
You too are a patient, my dear.
- (CRYING) No!
That's not true!
I've got to get out of here.
- Oh God!
You killed her too, just
like you killed my man
and he really loved me.
Geraldine!
He loved me!
- You're upset, Allyson.
I think you murdered
your own father.
I'll get you something
to help you sleep.
- No.
I'm not going anywhere.
You're not going to touch me.
We know all about that sleep.
Your little doctor bit's over.
Yeah, that's right.
I've told Ms. Beale.
She knows.
- What does she know?
She know how I worked?
How I trained
to be the best?
And I could have been.
(CRYING) Except for
one insignificant life.
One mistake.
I could've saved thousands.
Then I will.
I'll help everyone.
I'll help you, Allyson.
Hold out your arm.
- You told me she
was a patient too.
- Give me your arm.
- Don't you touch me with that!
- You shouldn't have done that.
I can't sleep now.
I have to take care
of my patients.
- Operator!
Why don't you work?
There's no use.
I can't find the way out.
- Everything's all right now.
Don't worry.
- Oh my God!
It's all right.
- What's happening?
- I told you.
You don't have to worry
about her anymore.
- What have you done
to her, Allyson?
- Don't worry about it.
I've taken care of everything.
- Allyson, you've got to tell me.
- It doesn't really
matter anymore.
I'm going away.
- You're going away?
What are you talking about?
- He's taking me away.
He still loves me, you know.
He told me so.
[SCREAMING]
[MANIACAL LAUGHING AND
SCREAMING]
- (CRYING) Allyson.
Allyson!
- Oh.
You shouldn't interrupt
us on our wedding night.
[VOMITING]
- Sam.
Is there anybody in this room?
Oh God!
Sergeant?
Sergeant.
Thank God.
Sergeant Jaffee, just
please listen to me.
- It's 2300 hours.
They'll be coming soon.
- Do you know what's
happening here?
- I have my orders.
- Sergeant!
Is there an attic
in this building?
Or an outside door?
We've got to get out of here.
- They'll be coming soon.
Go to your post.
- (WHISPERING) Oh Sam.
- I've been looking
all over for you.
Here.
- What is it, Sam?
- Dr. Stephens said
you should read it.
What?
- Take it Ms. Charlotte.
- Dr. Stephens wrote this?
Dr. Stephens is alive?
- Oh.
How could you have known, Sam?
Sam?
- Where is she?
- Who?
- The patient.
Ms. Beale.
- She's got to get out of here.
- Oh no.
She's sick.
I've got to help her.
I've got to find her.
- It's too late.
The trial has been held.
The verdict is guilty.
Guilty.
- Who are you to make a decision?
I'm in charge.
I'm the doctor here.
- The court has made a decision.
You are no longer in charge.
- I am in charge.
I am in charge!
I've allowed you
privileges and liberties.
Even after what you
did to Dr. Stephens,
I let you keep your little toy.
You wouldn't take that away.
- I'll take it away.
I'll take it away.
I'll lock you in your room.
Where is she?
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
- (SCREAMING) Where is she?
Jurors consult.
My name is--
- Sam?
Sam?
Sam?
Sam?
Sam?
[SCREAMING]
(CRYING) Oh my God!
No!
Dr. Stephens.
No!
[CRYING]
- Look at me.
You see a saint?
You are incurable.
Only faithful live here.
Only he honors me.
Faithful.
Faith before a saint.
SAM: Deeny.
Is she bad?
She's sick.
She's filthy.
Keep her upstairs.
[CRYING]
- Sam!
No don't!
Sam!
No!
- Correct conscience.
MS. BEALE: No!
No!
Sam, please help me.
Sam!
Sam, please help me!
Sam!
[SCREAMING}
Sam!
Sam!
No!
Sam!
No!
Sam!
Please Sam, try to understand.
You got to help me, Sam.
- Deeny's coming back.
- Sam, Deeny is insane.
She's very sick, Sam.
She's gonna kill us.
She's gonna kill you.
Sam, Deeny doesn't
love you anymore!
She's gonna kill you!
- You took my boat.
You killed Dr. Stephens.
You're bad!
MS. BEALE: No Sam.
No.
- Sam, she is so sick.
So sick.
But we've got to help her, Sam.
Go in and cut out the sickness
and return her to innocent.
We do. (ECHOING) We do.
- No Deeny!
- Sam!
Sam!
- Wait.
What do you want?
What are you doing?
I'm the judge here.
[SCREAMING]
- Sam.
There's nobody around.
She's locked all the doors.
I can't find the keys and
the windows are barred.
- OK Ms. Charlotte.
I'll show you.
Come on.
- Sam, come on.
We're free.
Sam, come on.
- (CRYING) Mama.
[SAM CRYING]
- Get out and never,
never, come back.
[THUNDER]
just heard them, Sam.
It's got to be them, Sam.
It's almost 1930 hours.
They would have
left an hour ago.
I think that's them.
Hear them, Sam?
Real low.
Watch.
Above those. trees.
They're really coming, sergeant.
You wait.
They do this every night.
Sam, what's that?
Right through there.
SAM: I don't like it when you
say they're coming, sergeant.
It scares me!
- It's all right, Sam.
It's all right, now.
- Should I tell him, Jane?
- Yes and you both come
away from the window.
It's been longer
than 10 minutes.
- Sergeant Jaffee, Jane
says it's all right.
Come on.
It's all right.
Jane, if they do
come will I see them?
- No one has ever seen them, Sam.
Now let's not be late for
supper again, shall we?
- (SINGING) Baby.
Baby.
- Supper's in a few
minutes, Harriet.
You'll have to leave
your baby here.
You know the rules
in the dining room.
Later you can come back
to her when you finish.
- Don't touch my baby.
Don't you ever
touch my baby again.
- All right, Harriet.
I won't touch your baby.
- You better not or you know
what will happen to you.
I'll kill you.
I swear to God, I'll kill you.
[IMITATING BOAT ENGINE]
- Ready to eat, Sam?
- Well, every night Dr.
Stephens makes me eat the soup.
I bet you don't know how many
kinds of soup I've eaten.
Come on, guess.
(LAUGHING) I don't know, Sam.
- Oh Jane, when can we
put my boat in the water?
- Sam, there's something
I've got to tell you.
We've been friends
for a long time now,
but I'm going to
have to leave now.
I'm going to have
to say goodbye.
- Goodbye?
That means you're going
to leave me, Jane.
We can't play with the boat?
- I'm sorry.
Oh I'll miss you, Sam.
But I just can't
take this any longer.
Oh I know you don't understand.
When you're ready
come eat your supper.
I'll be in to join you later on.
Right now, I have to go
and talk to Dr. Stephens.
- Hey Jennifer.
Jennifer.
Janey's going away.
Would you help me put
my boat in the water?
I bet Janey didn't say
goodbye to you neither.
I betcha.
[BLOWS RASPBERRY]
- (SOFT TONE) Baby.
Baby.
- Aw.
[LOUD LAUGHING]
I'm going to tell on you.
Leave me along!
(ANGRILY) Don't touch my baby!
I'll kill you if you--
Get away from my baby!
I'll kill you!
[CRYING]
Janey!
Get out of my way!
My baby!
He's taken my baby!
DR. STEPHENS: Now
use the axe, Judge.
Listen to me, Judge.
Use the axe, Judge!
Go ahead, Judge.
Use the axe!
Use it.
Again, Judge.
Once more, again.
Strike out.
Harder, Judge.
Now again.
That's it, Judge.
Hit it again and again!
Strike it!
- Dr. Stephens, I
must speak to you.
- Yes, what is it, Janey?
He's doing very well.
Can you sense how each
stroke reaches down
freeing some part
of his conflict.
Perhaps that's the solitude
of the unconscious brain
that he's reaching.
Reach for it, Judge.
- Dr. Stephens!
- Yes.
Doctor, I've come to a
decision about all this.
I just-- I just can't
take it any longer.
Harriet threatened
me again tonight.
I'm leaving.
And said you had someone
else coming out tonight?
Someone to help?
- I can't accept
that decision Janey.
You're a professional.
I won't allow you to do it.
[SCREAMING]
- Put it down, Judge.
[SCREAMING]
Put it down, Judge.
Put it down!
[SCREAMING]
- Judge!
Judge!
Put it down, Judge.
Put it down!
That's right.
Oh god.
How'd this happen?
- (CRYING) I don't know.
- Get out of here!
Judge.
Judge, I'm not going
to do anything foolish.
Get the axe, Sam.
Very quietly, we're going
to walk into the house.
Come on, Judge.
Don't look at Dr. Stephens.
I'm going to help you.
Come on, quietly.
Quietly.
Calmly.
That's right, into the house.
I'm coming with you.
That's right, Judge.
Sam, put the axe
down on the ground.
Sam.
Sam, listen to me.
From now on,
I'm going to take
care of the family.
I'm going to take
care of Cameron,
and Janey and all the others.
Do you understand?
- But Janey's leaving.
- Oh.
All right, listen to me.
I'll be back in a few
minutes to tell you
what to do with Dr. Stevens.
Do you understand me?
I'm coming, Judge.
That's right, quietly.
Calmly.
- Don't cry, baby.
Don't cry.
I'll get your bottle.
Here's your--
Danny!
My baby!
Danny!
Danny!
My Baby!
Danny!
My baby!
What have you done with my baby!
Danny!
- Harriet, what's wrong?
- Thank you.
- Harriet, what's wrong?
- What have you done
to my baby, Jane?
- Nothing.
- You took my baby.
- No!
- You took my child!
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
- Hello.
[KNOCK ON DOOR
Hello.
Dr. Stephens.
- The lady.
DR. MASTERS: Go to
your room now, Sam.
Have you been
standing there long?
- Why no.
In fact, I just
this minute came in.
I didn't see anyone.
- I'm Dr. Masters.
It's Geraldine Masters.
Am I expecting you?
- Well, perhaps Dr. Stephens
hasn't mentioned my coming.
I'm sorry.
I'm Charlotte Beale,
RN, psychiatric therapy.
- Beale?
- Yes, I'm to get
settled in tonight.
I'm starting with Dr. Stephens
first thing in the morning.
- Well, perhaps you'd
better go into my office.
This way.
Have a seat.
Now, would you mind telling
me again just who you are
and exactly what
you're doing here?
- Dr. Masters, I'm
sorry you haven't
been informed about my coming.
You see, Dr. Stephens hired me,
oh about a week ago, I think.
Yes, on the 20th.
I heard about Dr. Stephens
unusual psychiatric methods and
called for an interview.
He liked my training
and background
and said he was terribly
short on qualified help
and asked if I would start
this next week, which is today.
- Now, now, just wait
a minute Ms. Beale.
First of all, I was not
informed about your coming here.
And secondly, I feel sure that
Dr. Stephens would have brought
this up with me if he'd
reached a decision about you.
- Dr. Masters, certainly
there can't be a mistake
or perhaps it's just
an oversight and--
- That's just the
point Ms. Beale.
Dr. Stephens would not have
made an oversight, not about
something as important as
him increasing our staff,
not when there just three of us.
Well, normally three
of us on the staff.
- You know, perhaps
I really should
go in and see the doctor.
He's expecting me.
- Ms. Beale.
I have something very
unpleasant to tell you.
We've had a tragedy here.
We've lost Dr. Stephens.
He was viciously attacked
by one of the patients
and he died shortly afterwards.
So you could see
that this is just not
the time to discuss any of this.
Well surely, you can understand
how his death has greatly
changed things and naturally
I've taken over in his place.
But since I wasn't informed
about your coming here,
I feel no need to keep
any minor commitment
that he may have made.
Well, certainly not now.
You see, I'm uh, I'm changing
some administrating objectives
and uh what Dr.
Stephens had in mind,
may not be exactly what
I'm planning, well not now.
- I just can't believe
Dr. Stephens is dead.
- We have to accept
that, Ms. Beale.
I just don't believe you could
be of any help right now.
- Dr. Masters, I gave
up a perfectly good job
to come here.
They wanted me to
stay but I left.
- What place are
you talking about?
- Green Park General Hospital.
I'm a supervisor of
a psychiatric ward.
- I'm not questioning
your qualifications.
Did Dr. Stephens talk with your
supervisor about your leaving?
- Oh I'm sure he did, besides
I showed them this letter
of acceptance from Dr. Stephens.
- Then they knew about
your coming here then?
- Why yes.
- Do you uh, have any place
to go in the hemisphere?
- Well, frankly no.
Unless of course, Green Park
would consider taking me back.
I suppose I could tell
them what's happened here.
About Dr. Stephens.
And about you're taking over.
Perhaps, they would make
some sort of consideration--
- Ms. Beale.
Frankly, I have a very
difficult decision.
There have been some
abnormal reactions
with a few of the patients.
Dr. Stephens trusted them.
He treated them as if
he were their father.
So realistically, this has
been a death in the family.
Now my job is to
recreate that trust.
I doubt there is that Green
Park would take you back.
It'd be very awkward trying
to explain all of this.
So uh, well since you're here
and Dr. Stephens did make
the commitment,
I guess you might
as well start in the morning.
- Thank you, Dr. Masters.
- And you must understand
that I'm not offering you
anything of a permanent nature.
It takes a very special
attitude to work here.
- Dr. Stephens told me that.
- Dr. Stephens believed that
Insanity was not a breaking
away from reality but rather
a very complex
series of obsessions.
psychiatrists have always
tried to reverse that and bring
a patient back to
normalcy, but Dr.
Stephens believed the opposite.
He believed that these
obsessions could be pushed,
forced to grow so large so
ominous that the patient would
have to use his own
strength to destroy them.
- Really?
That's a very
interesting theory.
- We have been very
simply here Ms. Beale,
our patients are all
people who are unloved,
unwanted, forgotten.
So we're a family, their
family and everyone
helps with the chores.
Well now, I'll show
you to your room.
I'm afraid there's
no connecting bath.
- I'll take it.
- Thank you.
- Well, this is it.
I hope you'll be comfortable.
I have a lot of
things to do now,
so if you'll come into
my office in the morning
we can go over your routine.
- Thank you, Dr. Masters.
- Goodnight.
- Oh, Dr. Masters.
Where are the patient's rooms?
- Well they're right next
to yours and upstairs.
As I said before, we're a
family and it's for that reason
they're no locks on
any of the doors.
Dr. Stephens didn't
believe in the doctor,
patient relationship.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
[MANIACAL LAUGHING]
[LOUDER MANIACAL LAUGHING]
[GASPING]
- Good evening, deary.
You never should go rushing
around like this alone.
(WHISPERING) Get out.
Get out.
And never, never
come back, never.
- Get out?
Why, get out?
There's no reason.
- Oh, there's plenty reasons.
- My name is Charlotte.
What's yours?
- Up the airy mountain.
Down the rushing glen.
You never can go hunting
for fear of little men.
[LOW MANIACAL LAUGHTER]
- Good morning, Harriet.
These are just a few
of our little family.
You'll have an opportunity
to meet them all later.
Danny, behave!
(SOFTER TONE) Behave.
- Oh it's true.
Dr. Stephens tells
me what he wants.
HARRIET: (SYMPATHETIC TONE) Sam.
- He's very sad this morning.
HARRIET: Why is he sad, Sam?
- Because.
Everything's changed now.
Like that Ms. Charlotte.
And there's some others.
- My baby's very sleepy.
Very sleepy.
Charlotte's name is Ms. Beale.
That's what you're
supposed to call her.
- Dr. Stephens calls
her Ms. Charlotte.
He's very worried this morning.
Oh hush up, Sam.
Leave us alone.
- Sam.
- Janey didn't say
goodbye to you.
She wasn't your friend.
- Sam.
It's time.
Are you ready?
- Oh shoot, sergeant.
Do I have to?
Oh, all right.
- Prisoners inside.
Guard that door carefully.
- All right, sergeant.
Where do you want me to stand?
Right here?
- That's right.
And you'll not leave it.
Oh sergeant.
Are you coming back?
- That's Danny.
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
Yes?
- The guard is posted, sir.
- Jennifer?
- Yes.
The prisoner is secure, sir.
- Thank you, sergeant.
- That was Sam's friend, Jaffee.
- Yes, we call him Sergeant.
Difficult case.
War.
He was or is a real sergeant.
His uh, platoon
was lost in combat
because of something he did.
His prisoner, as he calls
her, is Jennifer Downey.
I want you to, uh watch
her very carefully.
Spend some time with her.
Several times she has
attempted to escape.
- Escape?
- In the sergeant's jargon,
to uh break confinement.
Sam, I told you not to
interrupt me when I'm busy.
But Dee, what you
want me to do with--
- Now Sam, I'll talk
to you about it later.
Go on.
- And that's Sam.
- Sam.
Sam is a lovable child.
He's been a patient of Dr.
Stephens for several years.
Dr. Stephens operated on him
three, no four years ago.
Dr. Stephens allowed me to
assist him in that operation.
Drilling through the frontal
lobe left Sam harmless,
but with the mentality
of an eight year old.
That was the last lobotomy
Dr. Stephens ever did.
And it was because
of that operation
that Dr. Stephens
turned from surgery
to his obsession
development theory.
- Tell me about Allyson King,
- Allison.
Now let's see.
Allyson has had a
very unfortunate past.
She was very close to her
father and died when she was 13.
Then her mother remarried
a man that Allyson
absolutely cherished
and he left.
And that was the
beginning of the pattern.
Allyson tried to love other men.
They were cruel to
her and they left
her and she almost gave up.
- It's a classic
pattern, isn't it?
- Then Allyson met a man
thought he was perfect.
He loved her and
they lived together.
But he used her.
He sold her to other men.
Well, her love for him smoothed
that over, but then someone
came along who was younger and
prettier and he threw her out
and that was the breaking point.
- What is her attitude now?
- She craves love desperately,
from anyone, everyone.
- And these others,
Harriet and Mr. Cameron.
- Judge Cameron.
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
Jurists council.
Judicator of the
Court of Appeals.
Doctor of jurisprudence.
What are you doing in my room?
- Well I really dig
all that mumbo jumbo.
You know it teaches quality.
- I said order.
- Strawberries.
Do you like strawberries?
- Ripe strawberries are
the color of blood.
- Taste me.
Please.
Taste me.
I can be anything you want.
- To be carnal in
minded is death.
- Come on.
I do taste like strawberries.
Taste me!
- Shroud your nakedness!
You're obscene!
[SPEAKING INCOHERENTLY]
- You freak.
You don't want to be touched
because you are too damned big!
You phony freak.
You're trembling look at ya.
You're hot for it but
you can't reach out.
You can't reach out.
You can't love.
You can't make it.
(HIGH PITCHED
SCREAMING) But I can.
- Rejection can be a
very painful experience.
- Well, I'll tell you
about the others later,
but right now I'd like you to
start with Mrs. Callingham.
- Oh yes, Mrs.
Callingham is the one
who occasionally hallucinates.
- Oh yes, she has a number
of interesting worlds.
Why don't you take
her for a walk.
She likes the flowers.
She sometimes think
they're her children.
- It's pleasant here, don't
you think Mrs. Callingham?
Do you get out often?
- It's you who needs to get out.
- Yes I remember.
You were going to tell me why.
- Oh uh.
Up the airy mountain.
Down the rushing glen.
We cannot go a hunting
because of the little men.
Oh Bobby.
Ellen.
Lester.
- Operator.
Operator.
Oh, Sam.
I didn't hear you come in.
- Dr. Stephens.
He don't call on
the phone anymore.
- Sam, I know how much
Doctor Stephens liked you.
- Dr. Stephens wants us happy.
He said I should tell you.
- Sam, I understand.
Dr. Stephens is still
very real for you.
- Oh Ms. Charlotte, I forget what
the doctor told me to tell you.
I knew it a minute ago.
- Oh it's all right.
I understand.
[KNOCK ON DOOR]
DR. MASTERS: Come in.
- Sorry to bother you
when you're busy.
- Oh that's all right.
Have a chair.
- It's about my phone.
- Well, patients seem
to be accepting you.
That's important.
I suppose you'd notice that it
's the little things that count
most, with especially
Danny and of course Sam.
- You're very fond
of Sam, aren't you?
- Yes, very.
Dr. Stephens was very
close to him too.
Sam's lost his intelligence,
but he has very deep feelings.
Perhaps deeper than ours.
- Oh Dr. Masters.
- Don't be alarmed.
This is Jennifer.
Occasionally, she
becomes very withdrawn
and naturally I'd like her to
be with me when that happens.
- Is she beyond help?
- Beyond help?
To say that means we have
given up and we never give up.
No one is beyond that's why
we're always getting closer.
- Yes, of course.
Please don't misunderstand.
- No, no I understand.
Well, it's time to
be getting into bed.
I promised her that
I would read to her.
Would you mind
seeing to the others?
- No, of course not.
Dr. Masters, I
hope you'll forgive
my statement about Jennifer.
I simply meant that I--
- It's just that
you're not quite used
to all of our little
family yet, Ms. Beale.
One day you'll be as close to
them as brothers and sisters.
Goodnight.
- Goodnight.
Dr. Masters.
Before I forget.
I wanted to tell you that
my phone is not working.
I was wondering if you were
having the same trouble.
- No.
That occasionally happens.
I'll try to take care of it.
- Goodnight.
HUMMING LULLABY]
- Goodnight Harriet.
- She's asleep.
- And it's time you
should be asleep too.
Goodnight.
That's enough for
tonight, Mrs. Callingham.
- You liked that walk in
the garden, didn't you?
- I did.
- Well don't be surprised
if we never go again.
- Don't mind my observing.
You handle Mrs.
Callingham very well.
Better than some of the others.
- Good morning, Jennifer.
Mrs. Callingham.
[LOW CRYING]
- Mrs. Callingham.
Your tongue has been cut out!
DR. MASTERS: Take it easy.
Here, drink this.
- No.
- Look you've got to
understand that ours
is a family of persons
who know very few limits.
Even the limits
of physical pain.
When Mrs. Callingham
did this to herself
she was probably beyond the
threshold of physical feeling.
My greatest concern about her
is the blood that she's lost.
She's very weak.
- I don't hold up
very well, do I?
I'm sorry.
It's just the thought
of our all being asleep.
- She was probably hallucinating.
Self infliction of pain,
self disfigurement,
sometimes that indicates
that the patient
has transcended the body.
- Oh, what would
Dr. Stephens have
done in a case such as this?
- Exactly as I'm doing.
Calling as little attention
to it as possible.
Now she's received treatment.
Now she has to accept
what she's done.
For the time being,
I wouldn't discuss
this with any of the others.
- Dr. Masters.
Aren't you ever afraid?
- I'm always afraid.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
- Hello.
Anybody here?
Hello.
Well hello there.
Hello there.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
Oh hello there.
Uh how are you?
- I don't believe we've
been properly introduced.
- Uh well I'm the
uh telephone man.
My name is Ray.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
Well, lady I hope
that isn't catching.
So you've got some trouble
with your telephone?
Uh could you show me
where the equipment is?
- What trouble are you
talking about, sir?
- Well, I don't know yet.
It's something with
your voltage drop.
Oh never mind I
will find it myself.
Say, how come you
people didn't call?
I mean about the telephone.
It can't be working.
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
Jurists council.
Judicator of the
Court of Appeals.
Doctor of jurisprudence.
- Well that's got to
be some big problem.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
What's the matter with her?
Cat got her tongue?
- I warn you.
Heed the lady's advice.
- What did she say?
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
- She said,
You're being here
represents grave danger.
[INCOHERENT SPEECH]
- Poor lady, I'm sorry.
I mean I didn't know.
She ain't got no tongue.
- Objection overruled!
- That is immaterial.
Irrelevant and
Out of order
- Oh they let you people just
wander around down here, huh?
Hey buddy, how about you give
me back my screwdriver, huh?
- I'll conduct you
to my chambers.
- No, no, no that,
that's quite all right.
Look, here's what we will do.
You people just wait right here.
OK?
Then I'll go and find
the equipment, all right?
And if I'm not back
in 3 minutes, then
you people can go and hide.
OK?
That's an awful virus
you got there, lady.
- Who are you and exactly how
did you enter this building?
- Now, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
First, which way are you?
I mean this way or that way?
- I don't know what
you're talking about.
I want to answer my question.
- I'm sorry doctor, it's just
that you got so many twilight
people around here,
you know and--
- Exactly what are you
intending to do here?
- It's your phone.
I mean we've been getting
some strange readings
on your voltage lately
and well I just came out
to check it as
quickly as I could
and get the hell out of here.
- Why didn't you inform
me of your coming here?
- How can I inform you?
You ain't got no telephone.
You've got bouncers
on every door
and a receptionist that
ain't got no tongue.
What's there to inform?
- That's enough of
your impertinence.
You have absolutely
no right to enter
this building without
my permission.
- So what am I going to do?
I'm supposed to
fix the telephone.
You want me to fix the phone You
don't want me to fix the phone.
It don't matter to me.
I'm just the phone man.
Now I drove for an
hour to get out here.
You tell me.
All right, this way.
- Tell you what, I'll finish
this up as quick as I can, then
I won't be bothering
you again, ever.
- The wiring is in this closet.
Please don't leave the area.
I'll be back in a few minutes to
escort you out of the building
and under no
circumstances are you
to have anything more to do
with any of the patients.
Now is that understood?
- Whatever you say, doc.
I'm just trying to help.
You know what I mean?
Hi.
I'm uh fixing the telephone.
- That shouldn't
take too long, huh?
- Na.
One of the lines was cut.
It'll just take a minute.
You uh, do understand
me, don't you?
- You know I used to
live this place where
the phone man was
always coming around.
- Oh yeah?
That bad, huh?
- That good.
- I thought you meant
that, that y'all had
a lot of phone trouble.
- Hell, I didn't
even have a phone.
Who let you in anyway, honey?
- Uh I don't know her name.
The doctor, I guess.
- She let you in?
- Yes, sort of.
She is the boss, isn't she?
- You know, um you know
you're kind of handsome.
What's your name?
Now look honey, I'm
just a telephone man.
- Don't be afraid.
- Look sweetheart, uh
you're a good looking gal
and all that but
this ain't my bag.
Not in the closet, it
ain't, Now cut it out.
I ain't even supposed to be
talking to you or nothing.
[UNZIPS ZIPPER]
- Don't back away from me.
You love me.
You do love me.
Say it.
- All right already, I love you.
Now cut it out, huh?
- Oh.
You love me.
You do love me.
Oh I'm a princess.
I'm a princess to men that
can't turn away from me.
They grasp me and
kiss my breasts.
Don't push me away!
You said you love me!
You said that you love me!
- Now cut it out!
- Love is pure.
Love is grace.
Love is strength.
You'll love me.
Your love is pure.
You'll always love me.
[ALLYSON MOANING]
TELEPHONE MAN: Now
look what you've done.
SAM: (SINGING) I
have got a secret.
I have got a secret.
And I ain't gonna tell
nobody but Ms. Charlotte.
- You're doing fine
now Mrs. Callingham,
but you need to rest.
You've been up and
around too much.
- (ANGRILY) Give me
that watch, Danny.
- You hurt me.
- I'm sorry, Danny.
I'm sorry.
You shouldn't have scared me.
You won't tell me,
will you, Danny?
You won't tell on me, would you?
[SCREAMING]
- Jennifer, stop it!
Stop it!
Jennifer!
Stop it!
[JENNIFER CRYING]
Allyson, help me!
Jennifer, stop it!
[JENNIFER WHINING LOUDLY]
[GASPING]
[LOUD BREATHING]
- Jennifer's all right.
I, I don't know what happened.
- (CRYING) Why did
she do it, doctor?
I thought you said
Jennifer was withdrawn.
- Withdrawal was an acute
reaction to her real condition.
- Dr. Masters.
Perhaps I shouldn't
have come here at all.
- I don't think there's
any point in our talking
about your leaving, Ms. Beale.
You forget you were very
anxious to take this job.
I made Special provisions
for you to be here.
(HYSTERICALLY CRYING)
I realize that,
but I don't know what to do.
- I'm the doctor and
you're the nurse
and what I do decides
what you will do.
- I'm all right now.
I just need to get some rest.
JUDGE: Many uncaring left me
carrying and the livid one.
Many will sell our skin left for
the white tailed eagle to care.
Left for the horn
neck raven to render.
And gave to the garbage
war hole to gorge
it and that great beast
the will for the world.
- Some night soon, the doctor's
going to help you Cameron.
- Gibberish.
- The doctor will help you.
- Masters has nothing to give me.
- I ain't talking about Deeny.
- I doubt that you know what
it is you are talking about.
I should go.
- Dr. Stephens knows
Ms. Charlotte and Ms.
Charlotte knows Dr. Stephens.
That's right.
He's going to help her too.
He don't want her here just now.
Deeny wants her though.
Deeny told me.
- Of course Masters doesn't
want Beale to leave, you idiot!
- Sometimes, Doctor Stephens
tells me about Ms. Charlotte.
I killed Dr.
Stephens with my axe.
[LAUGHTER]
DR. MASTERS: Sam.
Sam
What are you doing in here?
You haven't finished
your chores.
I want you to go
sweep the kitchen.
- Then can I have a Popsicle?
- Yes, you can have a Popsicle.
Ah, Sam's beautiful,
isn't he, Judge?
No past, no future,
only the present.
For him Dr. Stephens will
always be in the present.
Wish we could all
think of him that way.
Judge.
Judge, your floor is dirty.
Now it's your responsibility
to keep your room clean
and I want you to
take care of it now!
- You had a real baby
once, didn't you honey?
- This is my baby.
- Jeez, I feel sorry for you.
You really think
that's a real baby.
- Baby.
- Knock it off!
You moron!
- Allison.
Allison, you got very
nice hair and nice skin.
You're soft.
I like you.
[MANIACAL LAUGHING]
[ALLYSON CRYING]
[DANNY LAUGHING MANIACALLY]
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
Judicator of the court
of special sessions.
Please examine the evidence.
- Judge, would you've
done that to me?
- My name is Oliver W.
- I'm asking you.
- My name--
- Judge--
- Is--
- Please love me.
I need somebody to love me.
- Don't touch me!
- You're all alike.
Danny, Jaffee, I love you.
And you trying to be
so high and mighty.
Get out!
No, no, please, I
need you to help me.
About something else I mean.
I know you can keep a secret.
Judge, I've got me a man.
Yeah, I saw him yesterday.
Right here.
Oh he's sweet with beautiful--
I think maybe he's gone.
I think maybe he's looking
for me and he can't find me.
He's the most beautiful man
anywhere and he loves me.
- You always did have
an eye for such things.
- Judge, he wants
me. (WHISPERING)
Please help me find him.
- Naturally, I must weight this
new evidence very carefully.
- (CRYING) Oh Judge, please.
- Hi sarge.
Let me see.
Back off, they're on their way.
- Let me see.
- Move it!
- There's nothing there.
You're crazy!
- Get out!
[LAUGHTER]
[LAUGHTER]
- What was that
shouting all about?
Sergeant.
I've told every one of you
about this sort of thing
but you refuse to
adhere to my discipline.
Haven't I told you
what time the lights
are to be out in every room?
- Yes sir, you have.
I take it then that you're
contesting my discipline.
Is that it?
Answer me.
My authority here
in the sanitarium
is going to remain
absolute, unchallenged
and totally unimpeachable.
Do you understand?
Hold out your hand.
I hate to punish anyone.
I loathe it.
My domain here is going to
never be challenged again.
Do you understand?
My office, my
profession, my charge,
my liability, my
suffering for your good.
Never to take the fine balance
of all that, ever again.
Goodnight, sergeant.
- (CHEERFULLY) Good morning, Sam.
What could be troubling
you this early?
- A whole lot of
things, Ms. Charlotte.
- Oh.
Such as what?
- Dr. Stephens.
He's worried about things.
- Oh, I see.
- He wanted me to talk to you.
- What have you got there?
Where did you get this?
Who gave you this, Sam?
- He said you'd know.
You'd understand.
He wants to help
you, Ms. Charlotte.
- Who wants to help me?
What are you talking about?
- The doctor.
- Oh, Dr. Stephens I suppose.
Well thank you very
much, Sam, but I
think we should talk less
foolishly about all this.
- I'm the only one who can
tell you, Ms. Charlotte.
Dr. Stephens is
going to help you.
You should take the watch.
NURSE BEALE: This
kind of day seems
to take away all your troubles.
For a while anyway.
Do you have a family, Danny?
I thought you mentioned
your mother once.
Where did you live
when you were young?
- Miami Beach.
- Oh yes.
Your mother was in
business wasn't she?
- Yeah.
a massage parlor.
- I remember.
- This is for you.
- Thank you, Danny.
I guess it's time
we should go in.
- Sure.
[MANIACAL LAUGHTER]
[SCREAMING]
- He needs watching.
I'm sure you know.
We can be sure there
will be other times.
Other times for other things.
Unlike your friend Danny, I
choose only perfect moments.
Perfect moments to work out
perfect destinies for so many
lives.
- (WHISPERING) Get out.
I believe there will
be a more perfect time.
- Two vials of lithium
bicarbonate and one vial
of Verbactal
You're sure they're missing?
- Very sure.
They were taken from
a new container.
- Well, this is
really quite serious.
Have you checked all the rooms?
- Well just about, except
for Danny's and Jennifer's.
- But you have checked
Cameron's and Jaffee's.
- I checked those first.
- Well, I'll have to go through
all of this personally.
Thank you.
- I got to tell Deeny.
Deeny!
[CRYING]
[SCREAMING]
- Deeny!
Deeny!
- What is it, Sam?
- I can't find her.
I can't find her anywhere.
I've got to find her.
- Well what is it?
What do you want with her?
- I've got to show her, down
where I got the Popsicle.
What is it?
What's down there?
Come on.
I'll show you.
- Sam, I don't have
time to play right now.
I'm busy.
- (WHISPERING) Come on.
Come on.
I'll show you.
Come on.
She ain't here, but
I'm gonna show you.
- Sam, what is this?
- Come on.
- Are you just putting me on?
[SCREAMING]
(CRYING) Oh God!
No!
He loved me.
Sweet Jesus Christ!
Oh he loved me!
[CRYING]
- Allyson!
What's wrong?
[ALLYSON CRYING]
Allyson, calm down!
Tell me what's wrong.
Calm down.
What's wrong, Allyson?
Calm down and tell
me what's wrong.
- She killed him.
She killed him.
- Who are you talking about?
- He loved me.
He told me that he
loved me and she
killed him because he loved me.
Masters.
Masters killed him because
he loved me, Charlotte.
She's a murdering crucifying
same insane maniac!
She's insane, Charlotte!
- Dr. Masters?
- She's no doctor!
She's just like the rest of
us here and she killed him.
You didn't know that, did you?
She's a patient of Dr. Stephens.
She's a schizophrenic
just like me.
She can't control her
emotions anymore than I can.
- Where is Dr. Masters now?
- Oh Ms. Charlotte.
- I remember you
told me who he was.
- Charlotte, you've
got to believe me.
All these things that have been
happening since you came here.
Masters did it.
She cut out Mrs.
Callingham's tongue!
And she killed my man!
Masters did it!
- How do you know?
- She's a patient like me,
Dr. Stephens' patient.
She pretended to be a doctor.
He let her play and
she was pretending
when you came and you
believed her, Charlotte.
- No that's not true, Allyson.
- Oh yes it is true.
Why do you think she
won't let you leave?
Why do you think she
wouldn't let anybody in?
Anybody who threatens to
expose her, Charlotte.
She'll kill them!
- How do you know?
- She'll kill anybody that
threatens to expose her
and she'll kill you!
- OK.
OK.
[ALLYSON CRYING]
- Mrs. Callingham why do
you sneak around like this?
Mrs. Callingham,
who did this to you?
Your tongue.
- Ma--
- It was her?
It was Masters?
Oh God!
It's true?
She's a patient here?
A patient of Dr. Stephens?
Oh my God.
- Judge!
- Stay away from me.
- Is it true?
Is it true about Masters?
- Then you know too.
- I've got to hear
it from all of you.
You know already.
It's too late.
We know about you.
- About me?
- We've been informed about you.
The verdict is unanimous.
You too are a patient, my dear.
- (CRYING) No!
That's not true!
I've got to get out of here.
- Oh God!
You killed her too, just
like you killed my man
and he really loved me.
Geraldine!
He loved me!
- You're upset, Allyson.
I think you murdered
your own father.
I'll get you something
to help you sleep.
- No.
I'm not going anywhere.
You're not going to touch me.
We know all about that sleep.
Your little doctor bit's over.
Yeah, that's right.
I've told Ms. Beale.
She knows.
- What does she know?
She know how I worked?
How I trained
to be the best?
And I could have been.
(CRYING) Except for
one insignificant life.
One mistake.
I could've saved thousands.
Then I will.
I'll help everyone.
I'll help you, Allyson.
Hold out your arm.
- You told me she
was a patient too.
- Give me your arm.
- Don't you touch me with that!
- You shouldn't have done that.
I can't sleep now.
I have to take care
of my patients.
- Operator!
Why don't you work?
There's no use.
I can't find the way out.
- Everything's all right now.
Don't worry.
- Oh my God!
It's all right.
- What's happening?
- I told you.
You don't have to worry
about her anymore.
- What have you done
to her, Allyson?
- Don't worry about it.
I've taken care of everything.
- Allyson, you've got to tell me.
- It doesn't really
matter anymore.
I'm going away.
- You're going away?
What are you talking about?
- He's taking me away.
He still loves me, you know.
He told me so.
[SCREAMING]
[MANIACAL LAUGHING AND
SCREAMING]
- (CRYING) Allyson.
Allyson!
- Oh.
You shouldn't interrupt
us on our wedding night.
[VOMITING]
- Sam.
Is there anybody in this room?
Oh God!
Sergeant?
Sergeant.
Thank God.
Sergeant Jaffee, just
please listen to me.
- It's 2300 hours.
They'll be coming soon.
- Do you know what's
happening here?
- I have my orders.
- Sergeant!
Is there an attic
in this building?
Or an outside door?
We've got to get out of here.
- They'll be coming soon.
Go to your post.
- (WHISPERING) Oh Sam.
- I've been looking
all over for you.
Here.
- What is it, Sam?
- Dr. Stephens said
you should read it.
What?
- Take it Ms. Charlotte.
- Dr. Stephens wrote this?
Dr. Stephens is alive?
- Oh.
How could you have known, Sam?
Sam?
- Where is she?
- Who?
- The patient.
Ms. Beale.
- She's got to get out of here.
- Oh no.
She's sick.
I've got to help her.
I've got to find her.
- It's too late.
The trial has been held.
The verdict is guilty.
Guilty.
- Who are you to make a decision?
I'm in charge.
I'm the doctor here.
- The court has made a decision.
You are no longer in charge.
- I am in charge.
I am in charge!
I've allowed you
privileges and liberties.
Even after what you
did to Dr. Stephens,
I let you keep your little toy.
You wouldn't take that away.
- I'll take it away.
I'll take it away.
I'll lock you in your room.
Where is she?
- My name is Oliver W. Cameron.
- (SCREAMING) Where is she?
Jurors consult.
My name is--
- Sam?
Sam?
Sam?
Sam?
Sam?
[SCREAMING]
(CRYING) Oh my God!
No!
Dr. Stephens.
No!
[CRYING]
- Look at me.
You see a saint?
You are incurable.
Only faithful live here.
Only he honors me.
Faithful.
Faith before a saint.
SAM: Deeny.
Is she bad?
She's sick.
She's filthy.
Keep her upstairs.
[CRYING]
- Sam!
No don't!
Sam!
No!
- Correct conscience.
MS. BEALE: No!
No!
Sam, please help me.
Sam!
Sam, please help me!
Sam!
[SCREAMING}
Sam!
Sam!
No!
Sam!
No!
Sam!
Please Sam, try to understand.
You got to help me, Sam.
- Deeny's coming back.
- Sam, Deeny is insane.
She's very sick, Sam.
She's gonna kill us.
She's gonna kill you.
Sam, Deeny doesn't
love you anymore!
She's gonna kill you!
- You took my boat.
You killed Dr. Stephens.
You're bad!
MS. BEALE: No Sam.
No.
- Sam, she is so sick.
So sick.
But we've got to help her, Sam.
Go in and cut out the sickness
and return her to innocent.
We do. (ECHOING) We do.
- No Deeny!
- Sam!
Sam!
- Wait.
What do you want?
What are you doing?
I'm the judge here.
[SCREAMING]
- Sam.
There's nobody around.
She's locked all the doors.
I can't find the keys and
the windows are barred.
- OK Ms. Charlotte.
I'll show you.
Come on.
- Sam, come on.
We're free.
Sam, come on.
- (CRYING) Mama.
[SAM CRYING]
- Get out and never,
never, come back.
[THUNDER]