The Sentinel (1977) - full transcript

[Bell Tolling]

[Bells Jingling]
[Man Speaking Italian]

[Whistles, Speaks Italian]

[Chattering In Italian]

[Tolling Continues]

To us our course by lot is given…

charge and strict watch,

that to this happy place…

no evil thing approach or enter in.

[All] O Lord, you give us
strength and guidance…

to keep thy worlds
in the image of his truth.



Let no evil thing…

approach or enter in.

There is danger.

[Bell Tolling]

[Chattering]

[Mouths Word]

Toward the sun.

[No Audible Dialogue]

Action. Come on, girls.
Shake those heads.

Put feeling into it,

Thanks.

The living room.

Three bedrooms,
did you say?
And a maid's room and a bath.

You could use that for a child.
Do you have children?
No.



Uh, you are married?

Not yet.

Oh, Jesus, Alison!
Another unfurnished apartment.

Think of all the stuff you have to buy.
Well, at least I can get
a full-length mirror.

A what?
Just once,

I'd like to be able to check my clothes
without having to race Michael to the mirror.

[Giggles]

She'll like this.
Your lady?

Say, are these the only closets
for this room?

What are you in,
menswear wholesale?

No, she's a model.
Are you in that line?

Modeling?

Well, you look kinda… well-dressed.

I'm a lawyer.

Uh, lawyers must spend
pretty heavy on clothes, huh?
[Chuckles]

How much is this one?

600 a month.
[Laughs]

Save your money.
Marry Michael.

[Sighs]

I will. Jenny, it's just that
I've been with him for two years--

ever since I got out of the hospital.

I just need some space,

I just need some space now.

1,000 a month
is the least they'll take, huh?
Got people lining up.

Look, I need more room.
I wanna get married.

Happy marriages are made in
$1,000-a-month apartments.

Don't they dust in this place?

I'll let you know about it though.

Ah, people are standing
in line for this.
[Chuckles] Where?

Don't call us, we'll call you.
Thank you.

Thanks. I'll call.

I still love him, Jenny.
I just need to get a place of my own.

I have to prove to myself
that I can take care of me.

Maybe just for a year or two, you know,
Maybe just for a year,

Is your hair lustrous?
Is your hair easy to manage?

Try using Glamour shampoo.
[Laughs]

You're missing one of
my finer performances.

Yeah, I caught it
last night, thank you.

Tell me what one man can do
with 16 convertibles.

Get a lot of fresh air?

All bought…

with money embezzled…

from the Hudson Bank of Albany.

Will you get him off?

Depends if the judge
is a car freak.

Say, what do you say
we celebrate his going inside
by getting married?

Oh, Michael. Are you
gonna ask me that again?

Well, we've been
living together for--
for God knows how long.

Yeah, but I want to get
my own apartment.
[Ringing]

Listen, you don't have
to get your own apartment.
We can still meet.

Oh, well, thank you very much.

Hello.

Yeah. Hi.
Yeah, just a minute.

It's Baltimore. It's your mom.

Hello, Mom?

- What's the matter?
- It's my father.

[Crying]

[Groans]

[People Whispering]

Severe migraine. Shock.

Perhaps we should go, Mary.

Mom, I just can't go.

Take one of these.
Best go without her.

[Chattering]

Bye.
Bye-bye.

Good-bye, Alison.
See you at school tomorrow.

[Footsteps Approaching]

[Chattering]
[Man Laughing]

- Dad!
- Who the hell is that?

Get out of here!

- [Screams]
- I told you never to come in this place!

Get out of here! Get out!
Get out of this place!

I told you never again!

Get rid of that thing!

Get out of here!

[Sobbing]

- Jesus!
- [Woman] Oh, my God!

[Sniffling]

Are you going
to be all right here, Mom?

It'll be no worse.

Well, then why
did you stay with him?

I had nowhere to go.

Welcome back, Miss Parker.

Ah!
[Giggles]

We must stop meeting like this.
How was it?

Awful.
Oh, hey--

Uh, every real estate agent
in town called you back.
Oh, good.

You're serious about
getting your own place?

I don't want to be left
with nowhere to go.

- What?
- Just something my mother said.

I'll be gone for a few days.
Long enough to defend
my convertible freak.

Hey!

Present.

Just to show you
I still love you.

And I love you.

Hello.
Hello. Is this Miss Logan?

Yes. Can I help you?
Yes, I'm inquiring about
the advertisement in today's paper.

[Alison Continues]
The fully furnished apartment
in old Brooklyn house,

View of Manhattan skyline,
It's not gone yet, is it?
[Miss Logan] No,

Good, Can I come by?
Yes, of course,

Thank you,

Our questionnaire.

Also, we need another signature…
for our commission.

Then can I see the apartment?
Oh, I see no reason why not.

You'll be living alone?
Well, I'll have an occasional visitor.

Oh, a model?
Yeah.

Have I seen you on TV?

Is your hair lustrous
and easy to manage?

[Chuckles]
Oh, yes.

Shaking your hair in the fields.

Oh, it must be a glamorous profession.

I'm sure the landlord will approve.

From Baltimore?
Yes.

Hmm. How nice.

I find New Yorkers have no sense
for anything but sex and money.

Well, I guess there's
something to be said for that too.

It's one of the nicer
tree-lined blocks in New York…

and only 20 minutes
from the center of town.

Oh, and just around the corner
there's a supermarket
and a cleaners.

I'm sure you'll find it all
most convenient.

Shall we?

Oh, and you can keep
a bicycle here if you want.

The furniture fits beautifully.
I'm sure you'll agree.

Can I see the rest of it?
Oh, of course.

Note the utility and workmanship
of the items, Miss Parker.

Oh, I really like the view.

Oh, it's spectacular, isn't it?

How much did you say
this place was?

$500 a month.
Oh, I'm afraid
that's a bit too much.

400 is not excessive.

I thought you said 500.

400.

A $50 deposit
will be just fine.

Do you have a pen?
Uh, yes.

You've made an excellent choice,
Miss Parker.

Miss Logan?
Yes?

There is somebody staring at me
from that fifth floor window up there.

Oh, I'm sure you've
been stared at before.

Yes, but--

That's Father Halliran in 5A,
He's been here for years,

He's a priest. He's kind of senile.

He just sits by the window,

He's blind.

Blind?

Well, then what does he look at?

Quick. Give me the other camera.
I'm not going to get it like this again.

Alison, move to the left,
For Christ's sake, hold 'em still!

- Jack, help me.
- Here, birdie! Here, birdie!

Oh, my God!

- Get them on the cement!
- Come back! Come on!

- Oh, Christ!
- Oh!

- [Whinnies]
- [Barking]

Let's get it together again, fellas.

Is there a Miss Parker here?

- Alison!
- Jack, may I?

Why not? The ship's sinking.

Hello? Michael, hi!

Oh, it's going just terrific.

Two Afghans are eating six peacocks.
[Laughs]

I'll see you at 8:00.

Okay. Bye-bye.

[Gasps]

It was at the base of my skull,
and then there was a tingling sensation
in my arms and my legs…

and then everything just went numb.

Anything now?
Not a thing now.

I mean, they put an ice pack on my head
and five minutes later I was just fine.

Is that clock right?
Yeah, it's five to 8:00.
I'd best be off.

Aren't you going to stay
and say hello to Michael?

[Chuckles]
Never destroy a tender moment.
Oh, we've only been apart for two weeks.

Well, here.
[Laughs]

Thanks a lot for the vase.
Hey, listen, be happy here.

Okay.
Bye-bye.

Thanks a lot.
Oh, you're welcome.

Oh, my love to Michael.

Okay. Bye.
Bye-bye,

[Doorbell Rings]

Chazen is the name.
Charles Chazen.

I'm your neighbor in 4B,
Oh.

And this is Mortimer.
He's from Brazil.

And this, on the other hand,
so to speak-- this is Jezebel,

Say hello
to that nice lady, Jezebel,
[Cat Mewing]

That's it, darling.
[Whispering]
He's got indigestion.

Well, hi, I'm Alison.

Really?
Mm-hmm.

May we, uh--
Oh, what a lovely apartment.

Absolutely lovely!
I was wondering when I was
going to meet my new neighbors.

My, and you're so pretty.

Haven't I seen you before
on television?

Now, don't tell me.
I know. You were in, uh--

I've done some TV commercials.

Oh, really? I thought
you were an actress.
Let me see.

Herbert Hoover!
A noble president.

Oh, dear, he's my favorite.
Isn't he lovely?

That doesn't look like him.
Of course it does, darling.

I--I admired him so.
"I shall go to Korea," he said.

And got him elected.
That was Eisenhower.

Really? Well, Hoover must have
said something, didn't he?

"Give me liberty or give me death."

That's it. That's it.
Oh, a great man!

Oh, my dear,
your taste is impeccable!

I wish you'd help me redecorate
my poor place someday.
Would you, hmm?

Were you waiting to go out?
I'm sorry.

I'm waiting for a friend.
Ah, well!

Friendships often blossom
into bliss, as they say.

And speaking of bliss,
Mortimer loves to have
his stomach rubbed. Would you?

Do you know all our neighbors?
Yes, I know all of them,
and they're very nice people.

Except that priest who
lives above me. He's--Well--

However, he's quiet
most of the time.

Then there are the two women
on the first floor, and--

To tell you the truth, my dear,

Mortimer and Jezebel are my
only true companions really.

It's way past their bedtime.
Isn't it, sweetheart?

You wanna come with me?
That's it.

Now, if there's anything
I can do for you, let me know.

- There is.
- Just mention it.

Can I use your phone
in case of an emergency?

The phone company hasn't had
a chance to put my phone in yet.

Of course, if I had one
it would be a pleasure, but I don't.
Whom would I call, after all?

Now say good night,Jezebel.
Say good night.

Maybe she's just got a cold.
I think so.
She's very unpredictable.

Good night, my dear.
Good night.

Remember,
you eat and drink
with moderation.

This is the Arc de Triomphe,
as you can see,

- [Group] It's upside down.
- I took it standing on my head.

This is the Laughing Cavalier,
better known as the Mona Lisa.

You notice there's glass in front of it
because someone tried to desecrate it just--

You have some of
the most boring friends.
[Laughs]

Well, we always
make out in the movies.
Not here.

Hey, I hear you fainted today.
Who told you?

Your boring friend,Jack.
Well, I'm okay.

Al, come back.
Marry me.

It's only been
two years since Karen.

Karen and I were not like
you and me. Forget it.

I can't forget it.
Think of us.

[Man]
Au revoir to Paris,
and welcome to Siam!

[Crowd Yelling]

Ingrates!

I'll be one second.

Who's this?
Charles Chazen,

Minus parakeet and cat.

This man looks like a prune.
Well, I think he's cute.

Oh.

What's this?
I found it in my father's room.

I didn't know you were Catholic.
Does it matter?

Hello?

Is anybody here?

Hello?

How may we help you?

[Chuckles]
I just moved in upstairs and I just
thought I'd introduce myself.

I'm Alison Parker,

We don't get many visitors.
I'm Gerde and this is Sandra.

Hi.
Why don't you stay
and have some coffee with us?

Oh, I shouldn't.
Oh, I insist.
Cigarette?

No, I don't smoke.
Good. Sit.

I've already put coffee on.
Or would you rather tea?

- Oh, coffee's fine.
- Good.

[Gerde]
Have you met anyone else
in the building?

Yes, I met Mr. Chazen from upstairs
with his animals.

Have you lived here long?

Don't be alarmed
if Sandra doesn't speak,
She seldom does,

Help yourself.
Enjoy.
Thank you.

The crucifix you're wearing--
where did you get it?
That's from my family.

It looks French from Alsace.

The gentleman
who left here this morning--

is, uh, that your boyfriend?

Yes.

Seems an adequate lover.

Sandra here lived with a man
for some time,

He treated her badly.

Are you in ballet?

[Phone Ringing]
Excuse me.

[Clears Throat]

[Shuddering]

We're very proud ofour apartment,

It took us a long time
to furnish it properly.

W-What do you do for a living?

We fondle each other.

Fondle. Caress.

Going so soon?

- [Gasps]
- It's rather rude to eat and run.

I didn't eat. I drank.

Hello, Alison, my darling.
Have you been shopping?

Making friends?
[Laughs]

You could put it
that way, I guess.
Peculiar couple, aren't they?

To each his own, I say.
However, there are some things--

[Chattering]

Alison, Jennifer,
we're ready.

[Groans]
You okay?

Yeah, I just don't think
I got enough sleep last night.
You should hear my neighbors.

About time.

Now, Alison, darling,
you will turn and set the bottle here.

Make sure I can
see the label. Okay?

Quiet, everyone,
Roll 'em,

[Man]
Seventeen, take one.

Action.

[Sighs]
Cut it.

It was no good, darling.
I have to have the bottle just here.

Okay?
Mm-hmm.

[Sighs]

- Take two.
- Action.

Cut. The bottle
is wrong again.

Take eight.

Cut, Jesus, darling, All you have to do
is get the label so we can see it,

Take 14.

Action.

That looked all right. Cut.

By George,
I think she's got it.

- It's out of focus.
- [Crew Groaning]

Unbelievable.
All right, we'll use take 10.
Alison, take a break.

I think you ought to know
we'll go into overtime.
How much longer have we got?

About half an hour,

Oh!

[Screams]
Oh, my God!

- Get somebody over here.
- Call an ambulance!

That's just what I needed.

Look, get another girl in her dress,
and then we'll use somebody else's hand
for the close-up. All right?

Jesus Christ!

I've got these little white pills.
They're supposed to relax me.

[Michael]
Are you sure they checked you
thoroughly at the hospital?

Yes, I was tested for four hours,

and they said if it got any worse
I'm to consult a neurologist.

- Well, I'll come over.
- No, it's okay.

Jennifer's here and she's
gonna give me a ride home.

Isn't there anything I can do?

- You can use some influence
to get a phone put in my apartment.
- Got an easier one for me?

[Laughs]
No. Bye.

Vicky, what's the matter?

[Woman On TV]
It's Charles.
I think someone shot him.

[Man On TV] Where is he now?
He's at the house.
I didn't dare call the police.

[Man On TV] I'll come with you.
What if Harry sees you?
It's too much of a risk.

[TV Off]
[Doorbell Rings]

Who is it?

Who's there?
[Charles]
It's me,

My dear,
I have a surprise for you.

Oh, I've had such a bad day.

Then my surprise
will make you well.
Come on.

Well, I'll only stay for
a few minutes. Okay?
All right, darling.

Did you leave your photograph?
Yes, I left my picture for you.
You like this flower?

Yeah.
I grew it myself.
Come on! Come on!

Alison, I'm going to blindfold you.

And don't peek until
I tell you you may.

[Alison]
I promise,
All right now, step forward,

But be careful,
Be very careful and in we go…

[Door Rattling]
and--

Open up! Open up!
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

Surprise. Now, I want you
to meet Jezebel's other guests.

Everybody, listen. Listen.
That's right. I want you
to meet Alison Parker.

She's just moved into 2A,

That's right. Right, right.

Come here.
This is Mrs. Clark from 4A.

Miss Parker, dear.
Hi. How do you do?

Glad to meet you.

This is Miss Emma Clotkin…

and her twin sister, Lilian,
from 3B.

My pleasure!
[Giggles]
Glad to have you.

Malcolm Stinnett.
Th-Th-The Clotkin's cousin.

This is my wife, Rebecca.
[Mewing]

Hi. What apartment
do you live in?

We used to live in
the one above you.

But the ceiling leaked
so we moved to Murray Hill.

They couldn't let it anymore.

We come back here a lot.

You know Gerde and Sandra.
[Laughs]

Have a hat and noisemaker
for the party.

[Charles]
Everybody, listen!

The polka! Everybody, the polka!

I used to dance at
the Foxland Casino in the Bronx.

And one and two,
and one and two,
and one and two,

and one and two, and one and two,

The gals would sit in one side,
the guys would sit in another.

Then we'd meet.
We'd go one and two.

- It brings back memories!
- I remember!

?? [Continues]

Around we go and around we go
and around we go and around we go.

[Charles Continues, Muttering]

- All right, here we go,
Around we go, and around--
- ?? [Record Running Down]

- Oh, well, never mind.
- Oh, more. More.

- No, dear, It's time for the cake,
- ?? [Stops]

Good.
[Charles] Now, everybody,
now tune up your voices,

Black-and-white cat,
black-and-white cake.

[Charles]
Ready,

? Happy birthday, dear Jezebel?

? Happy birthday to you ??
[Clapping]

[Charles]
Ah, dear sweetheart!

[Miss Logan's Voice]
Note the utility and the workmanship
of the items, Miss Parker,

[Charles's Voice]
My dear, your taste is impeccable!

[Miss Logan's Voice]
I'm sure you've been stared at before,

[Charles's Voice]
This is Mortimer,
He's from Brazil,

[Miss Logan's Voice]
He's blind,

[Mrs, Clark's Voice, Reverberating]
Black-and-white cat,
black-and-white cake,

[Charles's Voice]
Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

[Charles's Voice, Reverberating]

We used to live
in the apartment above you.

[Mrs, Stinnett]
But the ceiling leaked,

[Creaking]
[Chain Rattling]

[Grunts]

[Ringing]

Gramercy 7-9945.

Yes, let me have Brenner, please.

- Hello.
- Yes, Jim, this is me.

I've, uh--
I've got something for you.

[Michael Continues]
Alison was just here in my office,

Some story about footsteps
and clanging metal
in the apartment above her last night…

when it's supposed to be empty,

I'd like you to get over there for me,
It's 10 Montague Terrace,

Yeah?
Brooklyn Heights.

Hi.

Hello.
I hope this isn't
too inconvenient for you.

Oh, not at all.
It's because my associate
is interviewing in the office.

Do you mind? Come along.
We're this way.

I've ordered
some coffee for you.
Thank you.

It takes forever in this place
when it's crowded.

Here.
Is everything going well with you?

Oh, yes. Renting out
apartments by the dozen.

Well, I'm glad
somebody's doing well.
You're not?

Not exactly. I haven't been able
to get much sleep lately.

Oh, not the old priest?

No, it's the others.
The others?

Mr. Chazen in 4B.
He keeps coming around.

And those ladies downstairs
really carry things a little bit too far.

The Clotkin sisters--

they are very strange.

And that old Mrs. Clark--
I don't know where she comes from.

I don't know
what apartment she lives in.

But what really scared me,
there was somebody upstairs…

walking back and forth last night.

Just banging on some
sort of metal or something.

I couldn't get to sleep at all.

And this is what you--
you wanted to see me about?

Yes.

My dear Miss Parker,

aside from the priest,
and now of course you,

nobody has lived in
that building for…three years.

Well, if they're squatters,
there's certainly no sign from here.

True, I haven't been here
for a long time,

but whole families?

[Miss Logan]
Oh, he exists,

I am here, Holy Father.

I have come that you may
shed your burden in peace.

This is where the lesbians live.

Be my guest.

The furniture was different
in here before.

Oh, come now, Miss Parker.

These pieces have not
been touched in years.

The landlord's renovating
all the apartments,
Renovating?

Well, rather slowly.

Well, it certainly doesn't look
as if anybody was clattering
about here last night, does it?

My God, could I have
just been dreaming?

So the only other one
you thought you were in was, um--

Mr. Chazen's apartment.

Miss Parker, it's getting late,
and I have to get back to my office.

Just one more.

?Happy birthday, dear Jezebel?

?Happy birthday to you??

Where's the cake?

Believe it or not,

I attended a birthday party
here last night…

for a cat.

Oh, I'm sorry I missed it.

I want to see the old priest.

[Footsteps Approaching]

I'm sure he can't hear.
Have you ever met
or spoken to him?

No.
Well, then how does he live?

The Diocesan Council of New York
own the building.

I'm sure they see
he's cared for.

Well, I'd like you to let me in, please.

That would be highly improper.

Watch the office.
[Woman]
Will you be back later?

[Woman]
Miss Parker?
Yes.

Mr. Lerman said to tell you
that he had to go out of town tonight
to get a client out on bail.

All right. Thank you.

?? [Classical: Violins]

[Rattling]

[Footsteps]

[Footsteps Continue]

[Screams]

[Hissing, Yowling]

[Gasps]

[Inhales]
Hello?

What do you want from me?

Who are you?

[Screams]

[Screams]

[Groans]

[Screams]

[Screams]

[Screams]

[Moaning, Whimpering]

[Screaming]

[Onlookers Chattering,
Shouting]

[Alison Continues Screaming]

Well, well, well.

You have an ill effect
on your women, Mr. Lerman.

This isn't police business.

A girl running through the streets
at 4:00 a.m….

saying she's knifed her father,
blood on her--

that's police business.

You know the girl, Gatz.
You know how she is.

I haven't seen her,

not since
your wife Karen's…suicide.

[Michael]
Don't get in too deep,

Closed. Closed, closed.
The case is closed.

Mrs. Lerman jumped
from the 59th Street Bridge.

Miss Parker-- mistress
of the bereaved husband--

took an overdose, but lived.

And now, here we are again…

in a hospital waiting room,

you and me.

Except this time…

there's no corpse for you
to invent murder theories about.

[Gatz]
Certainly not the lady's father,

He died in Baltimore
three weeks ago,

Cancer, we were told.

And no body in the apartment.

Just a poor, deranged girl…

who thinks
she killed someone.

You can have five minutes.
She's still heavily sedated.

[Woman On P,A, System,
Indistinct]

[Woman On P,A, Continues]
Will the following doctors
go to the emergency room stat,

Dr, White, Dr, White--

Alison?

It's me, Michael,

Can you hear me, Alison?

She can't respond.
She should be better in a few days.

Can't we be alone?

[Rings]

Mr. Brenner's office.

- Is Mr. Brenner there, please?
- He's not.

Did you call here before, sir?

When do you expect him?

Uh, I don't know.

If you'd like to leave your name--

Hello? Are you there?

Gatz,
we've had a complaint.

Michael Lerman?

Senior partner in his law firm
called the deputy commissioner.

And said I threatened him
with a closed case--
his wife's suicide.

And you did.
Not so much a threat, sir.

More an observation.

Lerman took you apart
in court, Gatz.

He made you look like a liar.

If we didn't exaggerate
some of the evidence
every crook in town would go free,

instead of only 90% of them.

That's over.
We all took a beating on it.

Now, just lay off him
unless you've got any real evidence.

Thin pickings.

The blood on the girl
was her own.

"O" Rhesus-negative.

There was no sign of a struggle
in the room where she claimed
she killed someone.

[Gatz]
No body,

She's in the hospital
blurbing about neighbors
that don't exist.

Except one--a priest.
And he wouldn't know it
if the building burned down.

Anna Clark.

One of the invisible neighbors.

That's funny.
I know that name from somewhere.

Did you ever see her before?

[Alison]
That's Anna Clark,

She was at Charles Chazen's
birthday party.

"Mrs. Anna Clark.

"Convicted murderess.

"Sent to the electric chair
at Sing Sing…

"March 27, 1949…

for the murder
of her lover and his wife."

"When her lover refused to leave his wife,
she chopped them up in bed with an ax."

[Scoffs]
Charming.

Do you remember
reading about her?

[Alison]
Black-and-white cat,

Black-and-white cake.

Hmm?

That's what she said.

How long
has he been here?
About a week.

Any identification yet?
Nope.

Nothing on the body--
cards, notes.

Nothing. He was cleaned out
and dumped here.

The print boys
have just taken impressions.

Okay.

Does he fit anyone
on the missing persons list?
Well, we're checking.

When you find out his blood group,
call me.

Right.

Doctor, what about
her psychiatric condition?

I'd like to get her stronger
before putting her through
heavy psychiatric examination.

Going over her fantasy
won't help at the moment.
All right.

[Michael]
Thanks very much,
You're welcome,

The doctor says
you shouldn't take so many pills.
They're depressing you.

They are?

Uh, I've got to call the office.

You sure that was
the last time you saw him?
[Phone Ringing]

You take it.

Hello.
Mr. Brenner's office.

Who is this?

[Sighs]
So you found a body.

Multiple stab wounds. Probably done
on the same night the Parker girl
claimed to have killed someone.

"Probably."

Blood type:
"O" Rhesus-negative.

Same as was on the girl.

Same as the girl.
It narrows it down.

To half a million people
in New York City.

And Michael Lerman's name,
address and phone number
in Brenner's file.

That's all?
He kept names and addresses
in the office only.

Nothing in his apartment.

Where he kept his real files,
we don't know.

Accused of extortion
10 years ago.

He was a detective
in name only.

He did, uh--
What's the fashionable word?

Uh, dirty tricks.

Meaning?

Meaning,
we have a New York lawyer,
Michael Lerman,

boy genius with a drunken wife
who wouldn't divorce him,

a wife who let it be known
from time to time he took bribes
in plea bargaining sessions.

Maybe Brenner conveniently
pushed her off the bridge.

Maybe Lerman wants to
scare the Parker girl to death,

Maybe--
That's a handful of"maybes."

Most cases start with maybes.

[Doorbell Rings]

Ask us in.

Miss Parker.

I hope
you're feeling better.

- I thought you were--
- Warned off?

I've got permission
to talk to you, Michael.

Alone.

I can go for a walk.

Darling--

It's all right.
I can still walk.

A half hour
will be enough.
[Door Opens]

We have our body, Mr. Lerman.

A man who knew you very well.

I never saw him before.

[Whispering]
Give us this day
our daily bread,

and deliver us from evil, amen.

You came to be heard.

It's eight years since
I've been to confession.

Then talk here.

I've rejected Christ.

I need to come back.

Is there anything else,

my child?

I've committed adultery.

And I've tried to
take mylife twice,

There is more?

I saw my father.

[Sobbing] I stabbed him,
but he's already dead.

[Sniffles] It makes me feel like
I should take my life again,

Since you have abandoned
the Church and Jesus Christ,

you have been lost…

and without guidance,

Once you have
re-embraced him,

the guilt within you…

that breeds suspicions
and deceptions…

will vanish.

The Lord brought you here.

The Lord will protect you.

For each one of us…

he has a purpose.

Embrace Christ, my child,

Trust again.

And ifyou have any doubts or fears,
come back…

to me.

[Door Opens, Closes]

I was worried.
It's been three hours.

Was it?

I went for a walk.
For three hours?

And then I went
to the church.
Why'd you go to a church?

'Cause it helped me.

Well, you do look better.

You know that man?
The detective?

Mmm. A one-ulcer man
in a two-ulcer job.

You know, I was thinking, just maybe
you didn't imagine what happened,

I'd like to take a look
at that house,
With those?

Yeah.
A gift from a grateful client.

Okay,

now where exactly…

did you step?

Well, I ran for the door,
and he was right here in front of me.

It was right here, Michael.

Well, then why didn't
the police technicians
find any blood?

Maybe somebody washed it up.

No. No, there would have been
a residue left on the carpet.

Michael, there's something
really different about this room.
Hmm?

When Miss Logan
showed this room to me,

I thought the carpet was gold.

Well, I've been to parties
in worse places.

The table was there,

a gramophone was over here,

there were plants everywhere.

And this bookcase--

"Charter House of Parma, "

"Techniques of Torture
by Allard, "

[Scoffs]

You'll like this one
for variety.
What do you mean?

All the pages
are the same.

Alison, there's nothing
strange about this book.

What do you mean?

All the pages are different.

All the pages are the same.
All of them!

Alison, either one of us is lying,
or one of us is seeing
something that isn't there.

Tell me, what do you
see in this book?
Latin. I see nothing but Latin.

Everything in there is Latin!
Okay, come here.

Come here. Come here.

I want you…

to write down…

exactly what you see.

Right there. Okay?

"Tibi… sortu…

"cursus…

"tuum…

vigiliaque--"

Jesus, Alison!

You really are seeing Latin.

Suppose he hears you,
but he can't answer the door?

Well, maybe he doesn't want to.

Alison, if something happened,
he knows.

Michael!

The lock's been changed.

Now, you say that Miss Logan told you
that the Church owns this building?

Well, that's what she said.

I want you to go back
to my apartment and wait.

I'm gonna get this translated,

and I'm going
to the diocesan council…

and see if somebody
will talk to me,

Ah, Flavius, my dear.

You must always remember
what he said to Sophocles.

[ Knock On Door]
Come.

Ah! Eldridge!

Um, no.

I'm, uh--
I'll see you Wednesday,
Professor.

Wednesday?
That's when I go
old-time dancing.

But every Wednesday
is my tutorial.

- What's your name?
- Alice. Alice Marchak.

Alice?

Oh! It's written here.
You're right.

When do I go
old-time dancing, then?

[Door Closes]
Here, Professor.

I phoned?
Ah, yes.

Form of early Latin used,

oh, three or four hundred years
before the Caesars.

Tea?
No, thank you.

Can you translate this?

You know,
when you phoned…

I thought you had
a serious problem,
something challenging.

Well, I'm glad to see that it won't
take too much of your time.

What does it say?

A word or two, now,
I must be certain.

Now, a few seconds,
Eldridge.

Uh, Lerman.
Michael Lerman.

Yes, Eldridge Lerman.
Right.

[Muttering]
Okay, All right,

Yes, there we are.

Well.

"To thee…

"thy course…

"by lot is given…

"charge and strict watch,

"that to this happy place…

"no evil thing…

approach or enter in."

What does it mean?

You would have to check the book.

You can get it in English.

The book?
Yes.

By Milton.

The English religious writer,
from his great work…

Paradise Lost,

Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death--

- Oh, Father, you frightened me.
- This is my church.

Well, I was just here
a couple of days ago,
and there was another priest here.

Another? Here?

He had a big r--
He had a big ring on his finger.
It was very heavy.

It had the figure ofJesus Christ on it.

I know of no such priest.

Perhaps he was a visitor!

[Whispering]

Yes. Yes.

Monsignor Franchino?
Can I help you, Mr. Lerman?

Yes. They told me downstairs
in the office that you were
the man that I should see.

I was told you wanted
some information…

about one of our clergy.

A Father Matthew Halliran.

You are a lawyer?

A client of ours,
now deceased,

has left some money
to a Father Matthew Halliran,

#10 Montague Terrace,
Brooklyn Heights.

He lives on the fifth floor.
At least that's what we're told.

Let me look at the files.

Oh, yes,
I recall the man now,

Father Halliran…

has led a difficult life.

He has a chronic case of palsy…

and he doesn't take kindly
to visitors.

We have to satisfy ourselves
that he's the right man
for the bequest.

He was pastor at the Church
of the Heavenly Angel…

in Flushing, Queens.

He retired in 1952…

after the congregation was disbanded
and the church torn down.

I'd like very much to see him,
if I could.

He has become sedentary,
a recluse.

Even a legacy
would do him little good,

- The Church takes care of his needs.
- Could I look at that file?

I wonder if, uh,

I could have a copy of this.

Church property.

Oh, yes, uh, this quotation.

Uh, I just had it translated
from the Latin.

I was wondering
if it might be familiar to you--
a religious writing or something?

[Paper Folding]

No. It's not familiar.

Are you sure?

I have never seen it before.

Thank you very much
for your trouble.

Jennifer.

It's Alison.
She called me.

Hey, how you feeling?
Terrible.

- The headache back?
- And the dizziness and the nausea.

And I'm losing control
of my reflexes.

By the time I got here
she'd fainted.
Did you call the doctor?

No.
Why not?

'Cause I was scared!

I keep dreaming that I see
that priest in the window,

and there's a funny light
behind him.

This man Perry called.

He said to meet him
tonight at 9:00
at the Grand Army Plaza.

[Michael]
Can you stay with her tonight?

- Are you leaving?
- Yeah. I have to, darling.

I'll be back, but I'll be late.
Jennifer will stay with you.

Dr. Orton's number's in the book.
If you need him, he'll come.
I just don't wanna be by myself.

[Michael] Don't worry about a thing,
I'lljust be gone
for a couple hours, Okay?

Hello, Perry.

Been a long time, Mr. Lawyer.

It's all there.

You take a high chance.

Let's go.

Open these two locks.
Sure.

"Father Matthew Halliran."

[Lock Opens]

William O'Rourke?
Father Halliran?

"William O'Rourke,
disappearedJuly 12, 1952…

after attempted suicide."

They're the same man.

William O'Rourke
became a priest named Halliran.

Yes, but why?

I just open doors.

Before Halliran,
there was Father David Spinnetti,

who started life
as Andrew Carter.

Declared missing,
Carter reappeared as Spinnetti…

and died…

the day that Halliran
started life as a priest,

Before him, Mary Thoren…

becomes Sister Mary Angelica.

All of these people,
going back for years,
lived ordinary lives…

and then became priests or nuns.

And all of them, sometime or another,

attempted suicide.

"Alison Parker, Sister Therese"?

"Father in Baltimore.
Attempted suicide.
Meets Michael Lerman.

"Second attempted suicide
on the death of Lerman's wife,

killed July 17, 1976."

If these files are right,

Father Matthew Halliran dies…

the same day
that Alison Parker disappears…

and becomes Sister Therese.

Tomorrow.

When did you get in?
A couple of hours ago.

Nice of you to drop by.

Anyone I know?

You don't trust me,
do you, Jennifer?

Not much,

I think Alison may die.

Tomorrow,
[Scoffs]

She had a bad night
and I heard her calling out,
but that's ridiculous.

- Look,Jennifer, there's no way
that I can explain this to you.
- Try me.

Look, that girl upstairs
needs our help.

Now, I can be with her all day today,
but tonight I have to be somewhere else.

- The house?
- I'm not asking you to believe anything.

I'm just asking you
to be with her tonight.

You know I'm
giving a party tonight.
Fine,

Fine. We'll come.
She can stay the night with you.

But please, whatever you do,
don't leave her alone after midnight.

Promise me,

Jesus, Michael.

You're really frightened,

Thou art not a God
that has pleasure in wickedness,

nor will the evil
dwell with you.

Let all those
who put their faith in thee rejoice.

Amen.

God be with you this night.

I can't make this party,
Michael.

Darling,
it'll make you feel better.

[Sighs]
That's what Charles Chazen said.

Alison, it's really important
that you're with people tonight.

Jennifer will take care of you.

I'd rather be with you.
I have to see this thing through.

The house?

After tomorrow, it'll all be over.

What do you know?

[Sighs]
God, I love you.

I love you.

Oh, I just wish I knew
what was happening to me.

Rebecca and Malcolm Stinnett.

Sell.

Gerde Engstrom.

Emma and Lilian Clotkin.
Anna Clark.

All people the Parker girl
said she met.

All killers, all dead.

She went to a party
with eight dead murderers.

Doesn't everybody?

[Chattering]
Alison!

[Woman]
She's aged him,

[Man # 1] I said, "Whenever, "
[Man #2]
And she said, "I don't know, "

Hello.
Well, you're the last.

I was dressing.

Oh, it doesn't matter.
No one's started eating yet
anyhow.

What's wrong
with Alison?
Nothing.

Nothing?

Michael,
let me go with you.

Take good care of her, will you.

Here's the doctor's number,
just in case.

Excuse me.

[People Gasping, Chattering]

Be careful.

[Exhales, Chuckles]

[Screams]

- [People Gasping, Murmuring]
- Call the doctor!

[Woman]
Oh, no! Get a doctor!

[Bell Tolling]

"Through me you go
into the city of grief.

"Through me you go into the pain
that is eternal.

"Through me you go
among people lost,

"Abandon hope,

all ye who e--"

The entrance to hell.

[Chanting In Latin]
Talk!
Talk, you bastard!

Why the charades?
Why Chazen?
Why Mrs. Clark?

[Chanting Continues]

You'd better say something,
or I'm gonna
strangle it out ofyou!

[Chanting Continues]

Goddamn it, I'll kill you!

You tell me what happened, or I'll kill you,
I swear to God, I'll kill you!

I'll kill you! I'll kill you!

[Gasping, Choking]
I'll kill you!

[Thud]
[Michael Groans]

Michael!

[Gasping]

Michael.

[Screams]

[Whimpering]

[Continues Whimpering]

O God, help me!

[Sighs]

O angel of God,

my guardian, please help me.

[Door Rattling, Sliding Open]

[Gasping]

[Door Opens]

[Footsteps]

[Door Slides Open]

[Footsteps Continue]

[Click]
[Gasps]

[Stifled Sobs]

Ohh!

Michael!
It's all right.

Listen, Listen,

The Latin you saw in that book
was an ancient warning…

from the angel Gabriel
to the angel Uriel.

Michael,
what are you talking about?

The angel Uriel was stationed
at the entrance to Eden…

to guard it from the devil,

Since that time, a long line
ofguardians-- sentinels--

have guarded the world
against evil,

Right now
it's Father Halliran upstairs.

But tonight…

you become the next sentinel.

The people you saw here--

the lesbians, all of them--

are reincarnations,

Devils.

The only way
they can stop the new sentinel…

is to make you commit suicide.

That's what they were
trying to do,

- [Gasps]
The cat!
- [Hisses]

Kill it, Michael!

Oh, don't.

You don't understand,

I was killed by Monsignor Franchino
for trying to strangle Father Halliran,

I'm damned to eternal hell
for my sins,

for having Brenner
murder my wife,

I am one of the legion.

[Screams]

Welcome home.

Don't be afraid.

I was waiting foryou,

You're such a sweet child.

[Gasps]

I just love…

having you around.

[Screaming, Gasping]

Please!
So much noise!

It hurts my ears.

Now, quiet, my dear.

[Whimpering, Panting]

Quiet.

You are here to join us.

I call ye
and declare ye now returned!

May horror and confusion
expedite our glorious march!

[Gasps, Screams]

[Women Cackling]
[Gagging]

[Pleasurable Moaning]

[Coughing, Gasping]

[Groaning]

[Screams]

[Gasping, Whimpering]

Rise, and enter now
into full bliss!

[Screaming]

[Laughing]

[Screaming Continues]

Hi.
[Sinister Laughter]

[Sobbing]

[Cat Yowls]
[Gasps]

Yes.

You are the chosen
of the Lord God,

- the tyrant and our enemy.
- [Groans]

You are she
who is to guard and protect…

the entrance to this Earth,

Now you must destroy yourself,

kill yourself,

Be one with us.

No!

[Continues Sobbing]

A queen in our kingdom.

Here. Take it.

Take it, my love.

Take it.

Take it, my love,
and remember,

friendships…

can blossom into bliss.

[Cat Yowling]

Be with him.

[Sighs]

Here.

Let this knife lead you to us,

make you well again.

[Moans]

Be well again.

Stop!

Guard us against evil,

and your soul that is doomed
for your attempted suicides…

can be saved,

Resist.

Resist! Resist!

[Clamoring, Screaming]

Attack! Stop them! Stop them!

No, no, you must fight it.
You must fight it!

Resist! Resist!

That's the enemy!
That's the tyrant!

Resist!

[Clamoring, Screaming Continues]

[Murmuring]

[All Gasping]

[Screaming Resumes]

Forgive us!

[Scoffs]

Bow down.

Down, Down,

All of you.

[Miss Logan]
You say you'd like an apartment by the river,
Let me see now,

We've got a new block in Brooklyn
overlooking the Manhattan skyline,

If you'd like to come by,
I'd be happy to show it to you,

Shall we say 3:00, then?

Your first time in New York?

Been transferred here.

I'm sure
you'll like this apartment.

Spectacular view, isn't it?

And all fitted out
to the very highest standards.

Lovely kitchen.
Are the neighbors quiet?

Oh, yes. There's a Mr.Jenkins
on one side-- nice man.

He plays violin with
the New York Symphony Orchestra,

And the other side?

Oh, the woman who lives in 5A.

She's a recluse.
She's no problem at all.

She's a nun,