Ghost Story (1981) - full transcript

Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley's twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group begins to see a pattern of frightening events developing.

She's dead.

She's dead.

I don't believe it! No pulse.

There's no pulse! No pulse! No...

You... She's got no pulse.

A little after midnight,

the old caretaker was awakened
by a terrible sound,

whimpering pitifully.

The sound came again... faintly.

Only this time,
he was sure it was human.

The graveyard was silent...



except for the steady padding
of his feet...

as he went
around the tombstones.

"Hello? Is someone there?
Someone?"

But there was nothing. No one.

As he stood there,
scratching his head,

feeling something
of a damn fool,

he happened to look down.

And there at his feet,

someone had been buried...

that very afternoon.

The grave had been disturbed.

The soil was upset,
and the cross lay on its side.

"Respect,” he muttered,

sure now that he was the butt
of a practical joke.



So he smoothed out the soil...

and set the cross back upright
at the head of the grave,

and then he went back
to his bed.

But outside, in the graveyard,

in the wind,

there was still a faint wisp
of sound,

almost like a song.

"Alive. Still alive!”

Aah!

"Alive."

God.

Marvelous story.

Marvelous.

I think that was the worst
shocker we've had in years.

Damn near scared the pants off me,
I'll tell you.

Well, I don't know about you,

but I could do
with another brandy.

Hear, hear. Maybe a good cigar.

I've got to go to bed.

- No brandy?
- I haven't been sleeping well lately.

Besides, it's late,
and it's getting cold.

- And Milly'll be waitin' up to...
- Pour some hot chocolate down me.

Come on.
I'll drive you home, Doc.

You know, mark my words,
10 years from now,

80% of the young men
of this country...

will be wearing ties
only to weddings...

and... and to funerals
too, perhaps.

I'd feel as if I was naked.

Well, it's time we all went home.
Come on, Doc.

You look terrible.
Are you sleeping all right?

- Damn it to hell.
- Are you?

Gentlemen, before you go,

I would like
to propose a toast...

to us, Chowder Society.

Chowder Society.

- The Chowder Society.
- The Chowder Society.

The Chowder Society.

- Who are you?
- Sleeping.

- Who are you?
- Woke me.

Tell me.

David.

- Who are you?
- You know.

I know?

I am you.

No.

Cold.

What are you?

Donnie? Come home, Donnie.

There's been a terrible accident
in New York.

Your brother is... dead, Son.

Come home right away.

Now arriving at Gate 3...

from New York,
Hartford and Springfield.

Gate 3 from New York,

Be careful now.

Hartford and Springfield.

Departing for Montreal...
Hello, Dad.

Montpelier will be departing...

Is this all you have?

I'm fine.

Look at you.

I'm okay, Dad.

Montpelier, your gate is four.

Break out the
snowmobiles, boys and girls.

Two inches of that lovely
white stuff already on the ground...

and a massive cold front
heading our way.

No question about it.

Talkin' about it might help.

Right.

How's the writing coming?

I've had other things
on my mind.

- You teaching?
- Didn't finish out the term.

Oh, Don.

So, what do you think
happened to him, Dad?

- It was an accident.
- Is that what you told everybody?

- What, that he fell?
- That's what they said.

I don't give a damn
what anybody said!

I know something happened
to him in New York.

You're shoutin'.

Jesus Christ, Dad!

I'm telling you
something happened to him!

- I think he may have been murdered!
- Stop I!

I knew the girl
he was gonna marry.

I slept with her, Dad.
Do you hear me?

I slept with her.

You come here looking like
God knows what,

your brother
not even in his grave yet...

Dad...

And you start carrying on
about having sex with his fiancée.

Dad!

Isn't it about time you
straightened out?

Somehow.

Dad.

I will fear no evil,
for thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff...

Thou preparest a table...

David.

Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life.

David.

Don.

Oh. I... I didn't know
where I was for a moment.

You were havin' a bad dream.

Lord, was I ever.

Think I'll turn in.

- Good night.
- I...

Well, you're all I have
left now, you know.

Uh, maybe...

Uh, maybe
if the weather lets up,

you and I can go fishin'
one day.

I-I'd like that.

Me too.

Well, stay around a few days

and help your old man
out with a few things.

Whatever you say. Sure.

Don't forget to lock up,
will you, kiddo?

Wake up. Wake up!

- No!
- Ricky, for God's sake!

Stella.

Thank God.

- Wow.
- Here.

You poor darling.

- Better?
- Yeah.

Do you wanna tell me about it?

No, no, no.

Those gruesome stories
you tell each other.

It's a wonder
you can sleep at all.

What are you old fools up to?

Black magic.

Oh, that.

Dad?

Stop!

Dad? Dad, you okay?

Fine. Fine.

You sure?

It was... It was just a dream.

Are you sure?

Morning, Mr. Mayor.

Is everything okay?

The wife and I, we're sorry
about your loss.

Terrible thing.

David!

David!

David!

David!

David!

David!

What the hell is he...

Ned?

Ned.

Ned!?

Holy shit.

Thank God you're back.
Everyone's been calling.

A ninny!
So are the two of you...

if you keep believing
such twaddle.

He saw him!

Edward was doing something
on that bridge.

I can't imagine what, but something.
He was doing something.

- He was walking along...
- I have another idea.

We've got to help the boy.

You talk as if he was
12 years old.

I'm sure Edward left him
well provided for.

Why don't you tell him
how grateful he should be?

Take it easy now.

To know a man over 50 years,

you... you'd think you knew
what he was capable of.

You're not doing your
blood pressure any good.

My blood?

Mr. James, it's Joel Brenner
over at the Urbanite.

Wants to know if you'll write
something about the mayor

for the paper.

- Ricky, you take care of it.
- What shall I say?

My God! He went off the bridge.

Say whatever you damn please.

- I can't believe it.
- Come on, come on. You better...

- I can't believe it!
- Come on. You better go home now.

- You... You...
- I'll call you later.

You knew him as well as I did,
Ricky. He couldn't.

I don't believe it.

Not now, Ricky.

Yes. Now.

My God, Sears.
Something's happening.

I... I can tell.
Something terrible.

You can be very persistent,

persistent
without being a bully.

That's a very nice
quality, Ricky.

Don't try to bamboozle me.

It's a few bad dreams.

And a monthly spook story.

Come on, now. Let's get to work.

You're dissembling.
It's beneath you.

All right.

What would you advise?

I don't know.
But we've gotta do something.

Hello. What are you doing here?

Answer me. I won't hurt you.

Answer the man, Fenny.

Hello, Mr. Hawthorne.

What are you doing here?
What do you want?

We want to play.
Isn't that so, little brother?

You can't stay here.
You're breaking the law.

- Is that so?
- You're trespassing here, illegally.

No. No, we're not.

- We know the owner.
- There is no owner.

Sure, there is.
We've spoken to her.

- Who?
- Our friend.

Our new friend.

- No one lives here.
- Someone lived here.

- Someone fantastic.
- What?

You've lived in this town
all your life, and you don't know?

What?

He knows, doesn't he, Fenny??

Maybe he would like
to play with us, Fenny.

What?

Maybe it's time
he joined our little game.

Yeah. You're gonna be
seeing some unusual...

and interesting things
before we're through, Ricky!

No, no, no...

And you might say you're gonna
be having the time of your life.

You know... You know, Ricky,

you're not gonna know
if you're reaping or sowing.

You won't know up from down.

And Ricky...

we're going to tear the soul
of this pathetic town...

and crush its bare bones
between our teeth!

Fenny did good,

didn't he, lady?

- Excellent.
- You liked that, didn't you?

I loved it.

Now I'll tell you
what we're going to do next.

That's him.

Gregory Bate.

Are you sure, Mr. Hawthorne?

Positive.

The evidence, taken as a whole,

leads me to only one
possible conclusion...

That Edward Charles Wanderley,

his mind in a state
of confusion, took his own life.

I don't believe this.

Get them out of that house today.
Do you hear me?

I'm sure everybody has by now.

Don't smart-ass me.
Just get 'em outta there.

Sears James, I don't suppose
there's any man alive...

who ever got in
the last word with you.

I should hope to hell not!

Mr. Hawthorne.

Meet me at the Village
Pump in half an hour.

It's just like
Mr. Hawthorne said, Walt.

Bate is crazy.

"Extremely unstable,”
it says here.

He and the boy escaped
from a state mental hospital

about a month ago.

And, Walt, he was a member
of some kind of occult order...

back in California.

Geez, what a pair.

Mm. Walt, what about
this occult business?

You think there's
anything to it?

I ain't no Freud.

Damn funny world.
Gettin' to be a damn funny world.

Strangest things pop into my head.

I was just thinking that sidewalks
have changed the world.

- One of my earliest recollections is...
- Mr. Hawthorne?

Call me Ricky. Everybody does.

Getting back to sidewalks,
your father and I used to...

Mr. Hawthorne.

You didn't ask me here to talk
about sidewalks, did you?

No. No.

Sears would brain me
for saying this,

but I think we're
in danger, all of us...

Milburn, the Chowder Society.

Especially the Chowder Society.

- Who is this?
- Uh...

I'm never gonna find nothin'.

Only a pair of loonies.

Cockamamie.

Someone's idea of a joke.

Aah!

The Lord is my shepherd.

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures.

- He restoreth my...
- How did you get in here?

Such a tragedy.

I'm so very sorry.

What kind of welcome
is that, Don?

Someone's died here.

What do you want?

How do you know my name?

To look.

Touch.

Who are you?

My name is Gregory Bate,

although I've been known
by other names in other places.

Get out!

Are you afraid, Don?

Will you be afraid
when you walk...

through the valley
of the shadow of death?

You're crazy.

Great treats are in store
for you and your old friends.

Imagine.

Just imagine.

Get the hell out.

We're full of surprises,
aren't we, Fenny?

Good boy.

We do have something special
for Don, don't we?

It's a little present
from our benefactor.

Where did you get that?

Every winter, ice, the power lines...

You should see yourselves.

You look like three owls.

Leave the candles, Milly.

You're giving each other
the willies with these meetings.

- He's found a picture of her.
- Who?

- Don.
- But that's not possible. I thought we...

I'm afraid Edward kept one.

- What have you told him?
- Nothing.

I wanted to. I like the boy.

- The circle has held this long.
- Maybe he can help us.

Change is change for the worse.

Spoken like a true lawyer.

We can feel things
watching us and following us,

and we dismiss them
as fantasies.

We have nightmares
and try to forget them.

Now that Edward's gone,

I fear... I very much fear...

that more of us
are going to die.

I think he's right.

I told him you weren't
to be disturbed.

That'll be all, Milly.

Milly.

Well, then, I'll just
leave you gentlemen...

to your private business.

Well, young man, do you
have something to say to us?

I want to buy my way
into the Chowder Society.

Buy? What did you say?

With a story.
Isn't that the price of admission?

- I'm sorry, Mr. Hawthorne.
- Ricky.

But it's worse than you know.

At least two people
have already died.

My brother was the first.

I think this is a ghost story.

I had landed a...
year's teaching job...

at a small liberal arts college
just north of Orlando, Florida.

Pretty unromantic stuff, really.

Just a couple of sections of
an undergraduate course in...

Wait up!

American literature.

I was seeing... I was sort of
seeing this other instructor,

a girl named Helen Kayon.

Mr. Wanderley.

Who was that?

The dean's new
secretary. Just started today.

How'd she know who I was?

It must be those blue eyes of yours.

Right.

- Call me tonight.
- All right.

"And the first thing
she does is seduce him.

The first thing he does
is to be seduced.

And the second thing they do...

is hug their sin in secret...

and gloat over it.

And try to understand.

Which is the myth
of New England.”

Between now and the next time we meet,
I'd like you to think about...

what D.H. Lawrence meant
when he wrote that.

Do you have a question,
Mr. Solt?

Yeah, the part about seduction.

- Yes?
- Could you be a little more specific?

Next time.

- So you're workin' late, huh?
- Mr. Wanderley.

Now, that's not really fair,
is it?

You know my name,
and I don't know yours.

Alma. Alma Mobley.

- Shall I tell the dean...
- Oh, no. No, not right away.

Um, he's... I really
stopped by to see you.

I wondered, if you're
not busy, uh, tonight,

if you're not doing
anything special,

maybe you'd
like to join me for dinner.

- Uh, I mean...
- Ah, Wanderley.

You must have been reading my mind.

You've been doing
exemplary work, Donald.

Thank you.

I don't know what your plans are,
but I was just thinking...

maybe we should extend
your stay here another year.

Close your eyes.

Make a wish.

If you want to make love
to me, you'd better hurry.

- Do you like it?
- It's beautiful.

I'm frightened of thunder.

I guess I'd better
stay here tonight.

Yes.

Ah! I want you!

I want another kiss.

- We're going to be late.
- Okay.

I don't know anything
about you, you know?

There's nothing much to know.
I'm just an old-fashioned girl.

I'll say.

- Come on, tell me.
- Not now.

Well, uh, where are you from?

You're English, right?
So h-how'd you wind up down here?

None of that matters.
I want to know about you.

Tell me where you live.

- It's just a couple of rooms.
- No, no. Where you grew up.

Ah, Milburn?

Well, it's just a grave
of a town in New England.

Uh, nothing's changed there
in about 200 years.

Sounds lovely.

It's not. It's boring.

Will you take me there sometime?

- Yeah.
- Promise?

Yeah, I promise.

Now.

I want you... now.

- Here?
- Here.

Or never again.

This door is not
to be locked at any time.

There's Mrs. Meredith.

Open this door this instant.
Do you hear me?

Gonna get us in trouble.

Don't stop. Don't stop.

Don't stop. Don't stop.

You're not wearing... um...

Where'd you leave 'em?

Did you leave...

You folks like to order now?

Come on. Tell me.
I've told you everything about me.

- No secrets.
- All right.

- No.
- There's no one else in your life?

- Just you.
- Well... but there was someone.

- Long time ago.
- You were in love with him?

It wasn't anything
like you're thinking.

Just... Just tell me that...

Tell me that it doesn't, uh...

- Have anything to do with you?
- It wasn't a great love.

No.

Good...

because I'm going to be,

and I don't want there
to be anyone else.

Just me.

Now, let me tell you where I'm gonna
take you next weekend.

You haven't done any work
in weeks.

- I don't care.
- I'm a bad influence.

Yes, you are bad.

You're too... Ooh.

What is it, Alma?

Water.

Let's, uh... elope.

We could, uh...
go to the Greek islands.

Crete.

Don, I'd love that.

- But...
- But what?

I'd rather go to Milburn.

Uh, no, not Milburn.

You're kidding, right?

Don't you want to show me off
to your hometown?

I want to meet your family.

Well, my mother died
a long time ago.

But your father,
he's still alive.

My father and I
don't get along all that well.

Surely this is different.
This is our wedding.

What's your brother like?

He's more like
my father, I guess...

Successful, ambitious.

More of a hunter.

You don't really want to get
married in Milburn, do you?

I want to get married
in the town where you grew up.

The same church.

I want to walk down the aisle
in my white dress and veil,

and I want everyone
to be there...

Your father, his friends,

the whole town.

All of Milburn.

I will take you places
where you have never been.

I will show you things
that you have never seen.

Alma?

And I will see the life
run out of you.

Are you all right?

Alma?

Do you remember?

The first night you were here.

It was raining then.

What is it?

- Let's talk tomorrow.
- Now.

I don't want to get
married for a while.

- When?
- I don't know. Maybe not at all.

You have to.

I'm sorry.

You don't know anything!

No.

Alma, listen...

Can I help you, Mr. Wanderley?

Where is she?

Miss Mobley did not turn up
for work this morning,

nor did she phone to say
that she would be absent.

The dean is most upset.

You're lax. You're lazy.
You're slipshod.

You disappear for days on
end without saying a word to anyone.

Disappointed?

I thought you made a good start.

Alma?

That's the kids there?
All right.

- Who is it?
- Your brother on 32.

Okay.

- Hi, Donnie.
- Ah, David.

I been thinkin' about you.
I'm glad you called.

Uh, Dave, I gotta talk to you.

Yeah. I gotta talk to you.
I got some amazing news.

What? Robert Redford
bought your life story?

No, I'm serious.

Um, I just don't know
how to tell you.

All right. Well, why don't you
try startin' at the top?

Okay. Um, about a month ago,

I was up on Columbus Avenue
on business,

and, uh, somebody
called out your name.

I turned around,
and there's this great-looking girl.

She thinks I'm you, right?

Well, I hope you got around
to tellin' her.

Yes. I got around
to tellin' her.

What's her name, Dave?

Donnie.

Uh, she is not the person
you think she is.

Shit.

She's worried you have
the wrong idea about her.

Everything about her is wrong.

Get away from her, Dave.
She's dangerous.

I can understand
you being upset.

If Alma had walked out
oh me to marry you,

I'd sure as hell resent you.

I don't resent anything.

Oh, come off it.
If you can't admit you resent me...

Shut the hell up
and listen to me, Dave.

Look at her. All right?

She is not real.

And you know, like,
when you touch her?

She's cold.

I don't think we're talkin'
about the same woman.

When they broke down
the door to David's apartment,

no one was there.

She had simply vanished.

There had never been
an Alma Mobley.

I can vouch
for their merit. Havana.

What about my story?

Well, that was quite a tale,
young man.

It happened,

just the way I told you.

Why is she here?

She must have heard you.

I know you're scared.

I'm scared too.

I'm lucky to have escaped
whatever sent David out that window.

But I think...
if we help each other...

Sounds like Knute Rockne
before a big game, doesn't he, Ricky?

That's Alma Mobley.

I don't believe you.

I knew this was going to happen.

- Coincidence.
- I don't think so.

Neither do I.

No.

I'm an old man
and often I'm rude.

We'll all be very grateful
for any help you can give us.

I knew it. I just knew it!

Last time I saw Alma,

she was wearing this.

Where'd you get it?

A little present
from Gregory Bate.

Is it... This had to happen.
It just had to!

- That's enough!
- Oh, no. No.

We... We must talk about it.

Please, let me tell you
about my nightmares.

No!

- Milly!
- Oh, no! Please. Let's not stop!

Oh, my friends!
My dear, dear friends.

- Easy, John.
- No, please.

Please let me talk
about it! Please!

Get out. All of you.

All this talk of graves and ghouls.
Out!

Please listen to me!
Listen to me!

Please! Please! Listen!

No, I'm not going in there.
No, I'm not.

I'm not going in there!
No! No, you can't make me.

No, I'm not going in! No! No!

It's just as I told you.
No pulse at all.

No pulse at all. She's dead.

Like I said.

John!

No! No!

- John!
- Can't move.

- You're dead!
- It's me.

- I don't believe it! No pulse.
- Milly.

Milly.

No.

No! No.

I'll be down
in just a minute, Miss.

- Milly?
- Rise and shine now.

There.

Is it late?

- 11:30.
- Oh.

You needed the rest.

Come on now.

I brought you a nice cup of tea,

though you hardly deserve it
after last night.

What do you mean?

You know very well.

- You attacked me.
- I what?

You stared at me as if
you'd never seen me before.

Oh, Milly.

Forgive me.

Too many of those darn stories.

Too much of that high and mighty
Mr. Sears James.

Oh, dear God, I'm tired.

Tell me.

You can trust me.

- Bad dreams again.
- Yes.

It's all over. Daylight now.

John?

I can't remember.

"She moved."

- Yes, she moved.
- Who moved?

She couldn't... couldn't have.

She... There's no pulse.

She's dead.

For God's sake, John. Who?

She was...

No. It's j-j-just the jimjams.

No. Tell me.

Now, go on, go on. Stop fussing.

You're a stubborn old mule,
John Jaffrey.

But I love ya.

Drink your tea.

Bossy.

Oh, I almost forgot.

There's a patient
in the waiting room.

- I don't see patients.
- That's what I told her.

Now, don't worry
about a blessed thing.

I'm sorry, but the doctor
isn't seeing...

Milly.

Milly.

Milly!

John? John!

Where is it?

Here, sit down.

- What have you done with it?
- Let me look.

I was in here before,
and everything was...

That woman!
It must have been that...

Galli. She said her name
was something Galli.

Odd sort of clothes.

Am... Ambulance.

Get an ambulance.

- Milburn County.
- Emergency.

Why can't they hurry?

Think I'll take a bite
out of you.

- Eva?

Hello? Milly? This is Ricky.

This is the worst story we know.

The worst thing
that ever happened to us.

The most dreadful thing.

We thought we could
keep it a secret.

Should have known better.

Guilt.

After all this time.

We thought it had nothing
to do with any of our problems.

Now John is dead too.

- If I hadn't...
- Ah, don't blame yourself.

I used to malign him
terribly, but...

Eva Galli.

There. I've said it.

Yeah.

Well, what happened to her?

Well, that's obvious, isn't it?

We killed her.

- The two of you?
- All of us.

The Chowder Society,

in the spring of 50 years ago.

It was the start of it all.

The beginning.

Must have money.

She's rich.

- Where is she from?
- Europe, I gather.

Eva Galli.

She's... an angel.

Eva.

Make way.

Good afternoon, Miss Galli.
Ned Wanderley. How do you do?

May I help you, Miss Galli?
I'm Sears James.

- Hello.
- Oh, uh...

- We were just on our way...
- Miss Galli...

- The most spectacular...
- Take my arm.

Am I right, John?

One more year of med school
and I'll come back home.

- Milburn needs another good G.P.
- Bravo.

What about you, Ricky?

Oh, uh, gosh, Miss Galli, uh...

Ricky, is "Miss Galli"
the best you can do?

Eva.

Uh, what was the question?

Your plans after graduation.

Oh, well, my, uh...

My father's got his heart set
on taking me into the firm, so...

Hawthorne and Hawthorne.

Forever.

And why not?
What's wrong with that?

Don't take any guff
from him, Ricky.

Old pencil stubs,
out-of-date law books.

- And you, Edward?
- Hmm?

Are you going to stay here too?

What? In this town?
Not on your life.

Ned's gonna be a famous politician.
State senator, maybe.

Thought I'd like
to be president.

The Chowder Society.

Look at you, standing here.

This is a dance.

Edward?

Don't worry. I won't eat you.

Thinks she's too good for us.

I don't think she's
so... so much.

Shut up, Nettie.

Ricky, move around
to the other side.

- In front of Sears.
- D.W. Griffith.

John, take a step
to your right. Stop.

Stay there. Don't move, anybody!

John!

Eva, say you'll stay
with us forever.

I've only rented the house
for the summer.

Why don't you buy it?
You have lots of money.

Good. Keep still, everybody.

- Ooh!
- Come on.

Six, seven.

- She has to stay, doesn't she, Ned?
- And!

Ned!

Here we go!

John!

Where are you going?

For a walk.

I'll come too.

"All day till evening,
I watched the rain...

beat wearily
upon the windowpane.

I was not sorrowful,
but only tired...

of everything
that I ever desired.

Her lips, her eyes
all day became to me..."

You're being very bad.

- I want you.
- Look out!

- Ned! Watch the oar, will you?
- Watch where you're going.

You don't mind, do you, fellas?

Ned?

Do you want to try again?

- Ned!
- What?

It's not the end of the world.

Well, it's about time.

Ricky? Would you
drive me home, please?

Yes, ma'am!

- You're drunk.
- Goddamn right, I'm drunk.

So are you.

- A toast.
- Oh!

- Stand up.
- All right.

- Stand up.
- Ricky? Come on.

- To the mysteries of women.
- Hmm.

To women!

All women are mysteries to me.

John!

So tell us, Ned.

- Yes! Come on.
- What?

Hmm. Please.

Whoo.

My dear friends...

Don't hold out.
No secrets, remember?

What was it like?

It was... awesome.

Really?

You have no idea.

She's a goddess.

A goddamn goddess!

I knew it! I knew it.

I knew it.

Shh!

Shh!

Shh, shh, shh.

Shh!

Shh!

M-Maybe... Maybe n-nobody's home.

Of course she's home.
Her lights are on.

Such a little old man.
God! Ring the bell, Ned.

- No, no, no, wait!
- Shut up!

It's too late. It's too late.

Too late?

For what?

- Hello, Ned.
- Eva.

You've brought everyone, I see.

Hi, Eva.

Eva.

Well, are you just
going to stand here,

or are you all coming inside?

All right, John.
Now let somebody else have a chance.

John?

I'm dancing with the goddess.

Oh. Ooh.

I think it's time
this Romeo was in bed.

Oh, no, no. Come on. It's early.

What about my dance?

You heard the lady.

Let's go.

You just want her all
to yourself, don't you, Ned?

I suppose you're going
to spend the night.

I don't think so.

No.

No. Why not?

Sears. Please.

No. I want my dance.

Get your things.

Get your things.

We gotta go.

We're going.

- We gotta go, John.
- Come on!

- Whose turn with Eva?
- Wait!

You'll get your dance.

You all will.

Uh, wait, please.

Miss Galli, I can't dance.

We're leaving.

I'm too drunk.

Eva.

Aren't you having fun, Neddie?

- I've had enough.
- I haven't.

I think I'll take
a bite out of you.

- Who's next?
- Please.

Eva??

Dance with me, you little toad!

Slut.

Poor Neddie.
Did you tell them all about it?

Did you?

You're pathetic.

- Shall I tell you the truth?
- No!

Eva?

Eva? Wake up!

Wake up!

Eva?

Eva. Eva.

Please.

- She's dead.
- She can't be! Are you sure?

- I tell you, there's no pulse.
- I murdered her?

No. No. It was an accident.

- We've gotta call the police.
- I'll go to jail.

- Ruined.
- Scandal.

I'm a murderer.
I'm a goddamn murderer!

Look, we're all in this together.
Let's call the police.

- No.
- What?

No!

No, we've got to hide the body.

Hide it where
it will never be found.

Oh, Jesus.

Shut up!

Do we really have to do this?

We have no choice!

- You know what you're doin', Ned?
- Yes!

- Oh, Jesus!
- She moved!

- Oh, my God.
- She's dead.

I tell you, she's dead.

No! No! Eva! Eva!

No! Eva! Eva! No!

Eva. Eva.

Eva.

We'd never talk about it again.

Not even with each other.

We told ourselves
it was a trick of the light.

We put it behind us.

Back to work, school.

Got on with the rest
of our lives.

Wasn't she missed?

The town assumed she'd
got tired of it and moved on.

There was a bit of talk,
but it died down.

You could almost feel the
sigh of relief that she had gone.

You mean nobody ever
showed up askin' about her?

It was as if she
had never been here,

as if it had never happened.

As if we had dreamed
the whole affair.

What about the car?

Still at the bottom
of the Dedham pond.

And you stayed here?
You never left.

We couldn't.
Not for long anyway.

What else could we have done?
Ruined four more lives?

Could have gone to the police
and taken our chances.

Instead, we did
this... obscene thing.

You think it's Eva?

And that somehow or other
she's come back to us, huh?

Yeah.

So do I.

I think maybe by growin' old,

maybe the forces, or whatever the
hell you want to call them,

have increased.

And these stories
and these nightmares...

- Maybe the guilt...
- Is that what killed Edward?

And my brother. And Dr. Jaffrey.

I think Gregory Bate
and the boy...

are helpin' her.

I want to go to her house.

I hope you'll come with me.

I will.

And where do you think
you're going?

Out.

You'll do no such thing.

You'll march right back upstairs
before you catch pneumonia.

- But I have to go out.
- Where?

You infuriate me
with your secrets.

I've been married to you
for 32 years,

and I'm no closer to you
than the day we were married.

I'll tell you in the spring.

I'm going to take you
to the south of France,

to Antibes, Saint-Tropez,
anywhere you want to go.

And I'm going to tell you
the story of my life.

I never thought I'd set foot
in this house again.

If only we'd been 30
instead of 20.

Oh, what fools we were.

I don't think anybody's here.

She's here. I'm sure of it.

You want to try upstairs?

Nothing will come of this.

You want to stay downstairs,
Mr. James?

Not on your life.

It's hard to believe, but
all this was so beautiful then.

The rooms downstairs and her
room up here... just beautiful.

So was Alma's.

All right, that's enough.

- We'll all go.
- He can't be moved.

Please, Sears.
If we stay together...

Ricky, don't argue with me!

I'm too old, too tired
and too frightened.

Sears!

I'll be back with help
as soon as I can.

I could never make him
do anything he didn't want to do.

- You okay?
- Yeah.

All clear so far.

- Can you hear me?
- Yeah.

Ricky?

Ricky?

Find anything?

Just an empty room.

You okay?

Yeah. I was just thinking.

What, about sidewalks again?

No, you scamp.

It's Sears.
I'm worried about him.

A lot of people think
I take too much guff from him,

but I don't mind that.

It's sort of permanent junior
partnership stuff, you know?

What can I do?

I've been married to the guy
as sure as I've been married

to Stella all these years.

He'll be okay.

I wonder.

Dance with me, you little toad.

Maybe he just got stuck
in the snow.

He'd have come back
if he was all right.

I don't like it.

We'll end it, Ricky.
We'll lay her to rest.

- An old man and a pup, huh?
- We are the Chowder Society now.

Sears was right.
You sound like Knute Rockne.

Here.

I have to get you to a doctor.

Be right back.

- Thank goodness you came along.
- Lucky for both of us, Ricky.

Don't struggle, or I'll kill you
right now! You hear me?

- You'll be quiet?
- Yeah.

That's a good little rabbit.

Why are you doing this?

Would you like to
live forever, Ricky?

That's what she promised us.

Imagine the peace of lying down
with your hands across your chest.

You go to hell.

Imagine her waiting for you
all these years.

Imagine her sleeping
under ice and snow.

- Waiting.
- The pond.

Would you like to be immortal,

even if you must die first?

Good Lord, she's in the pond.

Alive.

Still alive.

Sh-She tricked you!
You won't live forever.

Oh, I'll live longer than you.

Oh, no, you won't!

You're outta your skull.
You know that, Mr. Hawthorne?

We've got to hurry.
We've got to help the boy.

Aren't you even
going to say hello?

Oh, Don, you disappoint me.

I thought you'd
be dying to see me.

Y-You're not here.

You're not here.

Talk sense, Don.
You can see me, can't you?

You can hear me.

- I'm here.
- Get away from me!

Faster!

Poor Don.

Haven't you been longing for me?

Waiting for me?

I've come for you.

You're dead!

And you will be too.

Dead and wet and cold.

Don't you want
to make love to me?

Don't you want to know
what you've touched?

I will take you places
where you've never been.

I will show you things
that you have never seen.

No.

And I will see the life
run out of you.