The Uncanny (1977) - full transcript

Do you have a match?

No.

No, I'm so sorry, I don't smoke.

Ah, wilbur, how nice to see you.

Come in.

Thank you.

Hope you had no trouble getting here.

No, no, no trouble at all.

- Let me take your coat.
- Thank you.

It's just a little cold.

Go on in.



- I didn't know you had a cat.
- Oh, yes, yes.

Sit down, he's perfectly alright.

He won't bite you.

I'm not so sure.

As a matter of fact, you
ought to be grateful to sugar.

If it wasn't for him,

I probably wouldn't be interested
in publishing your book.

Then you are going to publish it?

Wait a minute, just a moment.

I said interested.

As a matter of fact, I'm not convinced

that the public is
ready for the story yet.

But you said that about
my book on flying saucers.

Now everyone believes it,



and my theory regarding the pyramids.

Do you believe this sort of thing?

I believe everything I write.

Everything.

Let us suppose, just for a moment,

that what you say is right.

How are you going to convince the people

that what you're writing about is true?

For instance, the Malkin
story, there could be dozens

of explanations as to
what really happened.

I had access to the police statements

and the doctor's report on the bodies.

Believe me, I do know what happened.

I know.

Come.

Mr. Wallace to see you, Miss Malkin.

Thank you, Janet.

How are you today, Miss Malkin?

Feeling stronger, I hope.
Oh, battling on, you know.

It takes more than a stroke
to put me out of action.

I'm sure it does.

Now, here are two copies of the new will

you asked me to prepare.

Now, what I would like to do
is go through them both with...

Janet, what are you doing?

I've just finished the ironing,

and I thought it'd be alright if I...

It is most certainly not
alright, Mr. Wallace and I have

an important matter which we
wish to discuss in private.

You must find something else to do.

Yes, Miss Malkin.

Have you fed the cats yet?

No, Miss Malkin.

Well, please do so.

Yes, Miss Malkin.

And shut the door behind you.

Not feeding my precious darlings.

That girl will be the death
of me one of these days.

I'm quite convinced of it.

Come on, come on!

Come on!

Do you really wish
to leave your bequeath

to your nephew as it stands, Miss Malkin?

In your original will, he was a sole heir.

Quite sure, Michael has
squandered a considerable

amount of my money already
and I have received

remarkably little gratitude
from him in return.

No, Mr. Wallace.

My money must go to the
only ones who've been

loyal to me all these years.

To my own little family.

Now, if you would be good
enough to sign these both.

Here and here.

You will keep one copy for yourself,

and I will take the other.

And I hope you'll feel
better soon, Miss Malkin.

The good lord will
see to that soon enough.

Should you think of changing
your mind about your nephew...

I won't be changing my
mind again, Mr. Wallace.

You can be sure of that.

My only regret is that I
won't be here to see his face

when you read the will.

Can't say I envy you your
job with all those cats.

They give me the creeps.

We have a mutual understanding.

I scratch their backs and
they don't scratch mine.

- Mr. Wallace!
- Excuse me.

Mr. Wallace!

Yes, Miss Malkin?

Would you put this in the safe for me?

I'd rather you did it than the girl.

Of course.

Over there.

Behind that picture.

Yes, I shall need the combination.

Ah, yes, I have it
right here in my diary.

Ah, yes, here we are.

What's the matter?

Has that old witch upsetting you again?

Brace yourself for a shock.

It's your aunt's will.

Her new will.

I hope she's not forgotten
to include her devoted nephew.

No, no, she hasn't forgotten.

Here we are.

"To my sister's son, Michael,

"whose kindness to me has
always been conspicuous”

"by its absence, I bequeath the
cost of one very good dinner"

"at a fashionable restaurant,”

"because it will probably be
the last he can now afford."

And that's all.

The cats get everything.

Does anyone know you have this will?

I took it from her lawyer's briefcase,

when he wasn't looking.

So, auntie has made out a new will.

But if anything was to happen to it,

my financial worries would be over.

There's another copy, in the safe.

But you know the combination.

No, I don't.

But I know where she keeps it.

And how would you like to be
married to a man who is very,

very rich?

You're a wicked girl, Janet.

A wicked, wicked girl who
deserves to go to hell.

But first, I'll see you go to prison.

Please, don't!

Don't!

Give me the police.

No.

No, don't.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to.

No, don't.

This was Michael's plan.

Milk call!

Milk call!

But I know where she keeps it.

How would you like to be
married to a man who was

very, very rich?

Very, very rich.

Very, very rich.

- Go, man.
- Yes, sir, giddy up.

But I know where she keeps it.

Very, very rich.

Very rich.

Still no answer.

But I think you're right.

We better go and take a look.

And I think it'll be
a good idea to call in

at the police station on the way.

Everything happened
exactly as I've told you.

Well, obviously the cats were hungry.

They had to eat something.

But to suggest that they
deliberately decided to avenge

the murder of their owner
is just too fantastic.

If you want proof, look at this.

A sworn statement from the solicitor.

A copy of...

What are you going to do?

I'm going to put the cat out.

Oh, no!

You don't expect me to let him do

what he wants to do in here.

Come on, sweetheart, come on,
come on, come on, come on.

There a nice boy.

Come and see this!

Now perhaps you'll believe me.

Yes?

But there were two cats,
I saw them, they were tal...

Let's talk some more about
your book, this little girl.

Lucy, there's
some pictures of her.

- I'll take her.
- Thank you.

- Hello.
- Hello.

- Mrs. Blake?
- How do you do?

I'm Nora Maitland,
town welfare department.

Thank you so much for
having come all this way.

Oh, it's part of the job.

Come, dear.

Hello, Lucy.

Do you remember your aunt Joan?

Mm-mm.

Well, I'm sure we'll
all soon be friends.

- And Wellington?
- Wellington?

This is Wellington, he's my friend.

Well, that is a surprise.

This is your room, it
used to be your mother's.

What do you think of it, Wellington?

Wellington says he likes it.

- Cats can't talk.
- Yes, they can.

But it takes a long time
before you can understand them.

Now I'll show you my room,
it's bigger than yours.

That's because I belong here.

I have to unpack.

It's a pity about her parents.

I certainly didn't expect
her to bring a cat with her.

Mrs. Maitland, what my
wife means is that she thinks

an animal might disrupt the house.

They scratch all the furniture
and make everything dirty.

Please, try to bear with
this one, Mrs. Blake, you see,

Lucy's extremely attached to
that cat, and in a way, it's

the only link with life as it
was before the plane crash.

If she were to be separated
from Wellington now,

I think it would break her heart.

Everything alright, Lucy?

Magic?

Tarot?

Ritual witchcraft,
where'd you get all these?

They were my mother's.

My sister believed in all this?

Well, we'll have to get rid of them.

No!

They were my mother's.

We'll see, dinner's in 10 minutes.

Hurry up.

Don't you dare make a mess.

Is that good, Wellington?

Mommy, why can't I have a cat?

Because I don't want
you to have one, dear.

You'd think that this bird and the fish

would be quite enough.

You let Lucy keep Wellington.

We let Lucy keep Wellington because,

because she doesn't have a
mommy and daddy, but you do.

If you and daddy were
killed in a plane crash,

could I have a cat then?

It's my turn to play with Wellington now.

Who said it was your turn?

Stand up!

See, I'm bigger than you are
so you'll have to do what I say

because I'm bigger and this is my house.

I can play with Wellington
whenever I like,

and you can't stop me.

You're my friend now,
aren't you, Wellington?

Oh!

Wellington says he's
my friend, not yours.

Huh.

We'll see.

Off you go.

I'd like you to play in the
tea room this afternoon.

Yes.

Come on, Wellington.

You're gonna have your picture painted.

You think everything's
gonna be alright, honey?

Hm, I hope so.

Oh, Wellington, stop moving around!

Finished.

So have I.

What do you think of yourself?

Do you like it?

You have to add some whiskers.

There.

I'll go and show auntie Joan.

You sit there.

I won't be long, Wellington.

We've finished now, you silly cat.

Here, pussy pussy.

Come on, Wellington.

There's a good boy, I won't hurt you.

Wellington.

There's a good pussy cat.

Come on, come on.

Wellington!

Don't be afraid.

Come on, Wellington.

Come on, Wellington,
there's a good boy.

Mommy, I...

Look what Wellington did.

Oh.

Lucy, if you can't look
after your cat properly,

he'll have to leave.

Now, take this cloth
and clean up that mess.

And if he does it again, we'll
just have to get rid of him.

That's all.

I built this with my dad.

You haven't got a mommy!

You haven't got a daddy!

You haven't got anybody!

There you are!

Don't just sit there, come on!

Come back up!

Oh, welling...

Up we go!

You havin' fun?

- See you later.
- Alright.

Come back here! Enjoy yourself.

Where are you?

Wait for me!

Ah, there you are!

What on earth has happened to you?

She was playing with her
cat and she fell in the mud.

I saw it from my window.
That's not true!

Go up to your room and change

into some clean clothes immediately.

It wouldn't have happened

if she hadn't been chasing that cat.

Angela, why don't you go out and play?

Daddy and I have something
to discuss, okay?

Yes, mommy.

Look, let's face it, that cat has to go.

But, honey, Lucy's
crazy about Wellington.

You know what Mrs. Maitland said.

She suffered a bigger loss,

and I refuse to have all this extra work.

Cat hair all over the
place, it's disgusting.

Alright, what do you want me to do?

The vet gave me the
address of a place in town

where they do it quietly and painlessly.

Mm-hm.

Wellington?

Wellington!

Wellington!

Why are you hiding?

I give up.

Come back, Wellington.

Wellington, come back.

Wellington, it's your turn to count!

Welling... Wellington!

Wellington!

Welling, where are you?

Don't you know?

Wellington's gone, gone for good.

Daddy took him away this morning.

He sold him to the butcher,
to make into dog's meat!

No, I don't believe you!

- He'll come back!
- You'll see!

Wellington!

Wellington!

Here, you got away.

Angela!

She'll find you.

She'll tell her mother.

Wellington?

What are we gonna do?

Of course.

You are clever.

Let's try.

Lucy?

Wellington!

How did you get back?

What are you doing?

You'll be in awful trouble
when mommy gets home.

You better wash it off.

And now for the ceremony.

You can watch, but don't
step into the circle,

whatever you do, it could be dangerous.

Hm!

There.

I can't leave the circle!

Lucy, I'm caught!

Oh, please help me, Lucy!

Lucy!

Please.

- Angela.
- Oh, please help me, Lucy.

I can't move, my legs are paralyzed.

Oh, Lucy.

Lucy, please stop.

Lucy.

Oh, Lucy.

Lucy, please make me big again.

I won't tell mommy about the cat.

I won't tell her about anything.

Lucy, please!

I promise!

You're not such a big girl
anymore, are you, Angela?

Why, you're no bigger than a mouse.

Wellington!

No!

Oh, my foot's stuck.

Get away!

Go on, get away from me!

I'll get you.

I'll get you.

Go on, get out!

Go on, get away!

Lucy.

I'm sorry I hurt Wellington.

I didn't mean to.

You're not angry, are you?

Oh, Wellington, please let go.

Please!

Angela, are you in there?

Lucy.

Lucy.

No.

Lucy, please!

Lucy!

Angela!

Lucy, have you seen...

Lucy, what are you doing with
this candle on the floor,

and all these chalk marks?

I want you to clean this up immediately.

And what, I thought I told
you to be very careful

when you're using paint in here?

What a sticky mess.

Why can't you be good like Angela?

She never puts a foot wrong.

It's true that Angela
Blake did disappear,

but children disappear
for all sorts of reasons.

I'm sure the police will
find her eventually.

My word, your nerves are
in a state, aren't they?

Why don't you relax?

It's only sugar.

You can't be sure.

I'd know that hungry voice anywhere.

It may not be, look,
don't open the door, please.

What do you want me to do,
leave him out there to freeze?

You see, there's nothing to be afraid of.

No more milk for you.

You should go on a diet.

We let them prowl about
just as they please.

Hardly noticing them.

And all the time, they're watching us.

Spying on us.

Making sure that we behave.

If you expect me to
publish this book as anything

other than fantasy, you'll
have to do better than that.

All the proof you ask for is here, look.

Ah, now.

Do you remember the case
of Valentine de'ath?

- It's difficult to forget it.
- It was the cat that did it.

The cat.

Now, do you consent to be my bride?

And to assign all your lands over to me?

Never!

Then behold...

The instrument of your destruction.

Cut, cut, cut, cut!

That was terrible,
she got to be more real.

Yeah.

Madeleine, that so melodramatic.

Tone it down a little, would you, love?

Make it a little more realistic.

Well, sir, there seems
to have been a mix-up

of some sort in your props
department, most unfortunate.

But as far as we're concerned, you're

free to go ahead as soon as you please.

Thank you very much,
inspector, for clearing up

the mystery so quickly, I
hope you'll drop by later

to see the picture when it's finished.

Can't stand horror pictures.

All that blood.

Goodbye, inspector!

We're back in business!

Isn't there one small
problem you've overlooked?

- What's that?
- Our leading lady.

Our leading lady?

A great loss to the industry.
And the acting profession.

Thank you.

It's very comforting to know
that Madeleine had such,

such kind friends.

Oh, please, don't stand on my account.

Dear Madeleine, at least she died acting.

Which is the way she would
have wanted to go, I know that.

Madeleine.

Always the professional.

I was wondering who is
going to replace Madeleine?

In the movie, I mean.

Well, Bruce and I were
just discussing, um...

Do you think I might
venture to make a suggestion?

Miss Hamilton.

Mr. Pomeroy, I want you
to meet Edina Hamilton.

She was my wife's stand-in.

The likeness is amazing.

Only younger.

Valentine de'ath tells me
you'll be right for the part

of the countess, how do you feel about it?

I'd love to do it, Mr. Pomeroy.

I've studied the part
and I know all her lines.

She looks good, but can she act?

Madeleine and I saw her in a play once.

Only a small production, of course,

but we were very
impressed with her talent.

And of course she does
look so like Madeleine.

Change the hairstyle a little,

you might not have to
re-shoot any footage.

I'll have the contracts
drawn up this afternoon.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Pomeroy.

I'm sure you've made the right decision.

Congratulations, miss Hamilton.

Bruce!

Bruce, baby.

A new star has been born.

"Alone at last," as they say

in those terrible scripts
they're always sending me.

Well, how does it feel to
be, to be a movie star?

Fantastic.

I fired all the servants.

Tomorrow, you can choose your own.

What do you think the neighbors
would say if they knew

that I had brought a
beautiful woman to my house

on the very day that my wife was killed?

They'd probably think that
you switched a real blade,

for the rubber one.

How can you say such a thing?

Because it happens to be true.

Oh!

What's the matter?

I thought I saw a pussy cat!

I did, I did!

Oh.

He's Madeleine's.

A vain, empty-headed
creature like his mistress.

Oh, he's so cute, what's his name?

I don't know, I call him, uh, scat.

Scat, scat, scat?

Mm!

Scat!

It's the cat gut factory for you tomorrow!

You frightened him.

As long as I don't frighten you away.

Oh, you are awful.

How considerate of
Madeleine to be my size!

Poor Madeleine.

She was giving the
performance of her life.

It was her big scene.

It was her big scene and
she went all to pieces.

Mm, now she's just a bit player.

Oh, v.D.

I love you.

If I didn't know better,

I would say that Madeleine was back.

Your he turns out to be a she.

What are you going to do with them?

As I am, in a manner of
speaking, their stepfather,

I shall have to find
them, uh, foster parents.

Mm, and baptize them by total immersion.

- What about the mother?
- I'll see to her tomorrow.

When I get back from the studio.

Action.

Okay, you're backing away now, val.

Start the camera track now.

Perfect, now you got him on the defense.

Now follow through, that's it, val.

Come on now, lunge, lunge!

Yeah, that's it, okay.

Okay, now go down the stairs.

Nice, Val, nice.

Okay, now you're in a clinch, good.

Now force him up again.

Hey, what's the trouble?
Okay, go on, go on.

Yep.

Beautiful, now you're backing
away, okay, you're in trouble.

I wanna see it in your face, okay, good.

Use the arms, use the arms,
I want some action here.

That's it.

Come on, put some more beef into it.

Nice, nice.

Alright.

Now you're closing in, that's it.

Hold your ground, hold your ground.

That's right, okay, now force him back.

Okay, now we're gonna go closeup,
that's it, hold it there.

That's it.

Force him back in, force him back in.

Right.

Watch out!

- Val, are you alright?
- Yeah, cut, cut!

What idiot fixed that lamp anyway?

It's so good to be home, v.D.

You had a terrible day.

My god, it's here!

- What is it?
- The cat's back!

She's torn up the bed!

How are we going to catch it?

What was it that killed the cat?

Curiosity.

There are more ways than one.

To skin a cat.

Alright, Edina.

Now, for the last time, remember.

You see the spikes coming
towards your eyes, right?

You act scared, then you
scream your lungs out!

Got it?

- Yes.
- Good girl.

Now get in there.

Everything.

- That's, now be careful.
- Oh!

Be careful, arms on the side.

That's it, chin up.

Perfect.

Now whatever happens, Valentine,
don't let go of that cable.

Right?

What do you think I am, an idiot?

Let's try a rehearsal!

Quiet!

Ready?

And action.

At last, dear Contessa.

You are beginning to see
the error of your ways.

No, no, no, cut!

I said scream, do you call that a scream?

Those are spikes, real
spikes, coming towards youl!

I just don't feel scared!

She doesn't feel scared.

I know there's no danger,
when this wall goes back.

Alright, we'll save this for tomorrow.

Let's try the love scene.

She should be good at that.

Dungeon of horror, love scene, take 12.

Alright, quiet, everyone!

And action.

Ah, countess.

Your beauty gladdens my
heart and quickens my pulse.

But tell me, what is your feeling for me?

No, no, no, no, no, cut!

I'm s 0 rry., m s orry.
I'm ss 0 rry.

The scream was in the last scene.

This time you're supposed to kiss him.

The, the cat!

- What?
- I saw it over there.

It's over there, it's over there!

What cat, what
are you talking about?

Why me?

She's not going to work out well.

Edina?

Well, she's still very nervous.

She hasn't quite recovered
from the shock of Madeleine.

And there's still
plenty of time to recast.

Let me stay behind with her tonight.

I'll run over the scenes with her.

Give her the, the feel of it.

Tomorrow she'll be perfect.

I promise.

Alright.

What is the matter?

Don't you want to be a success?

I did see the cat.

That cat is probably back at home now.

Dead!

Come on, let's rehearse.

The iron maiden.

Get in there.

Get in there.

Goin, goin.

And this time, try to act scared.

Remember, the spikes are
coming for your eyes!

Your body!

You'll scream!

You sound like a mouse.

Come out!

Come here!

Hold this cable.

And hold it tight!

Or else I shall be killed.

Now, I will show you what terror means!

Now, you see, it's very simple.

In you go.

Perfect.

Good morning, well, how
did the rehearsal go, huh?

Well?

Well?

What's the matter, the
cat got your tongue?

It's true, that's the
way they were found,

but there could be a dozen
explanations for what happened.

A jealous woman, perhaps,
or an escaped maniac.

One explanation fits all
the stories, all the facts.

It's here, years of research.

Evidence from all over the world,

proving beyond a shadow of
doubt that cats have been

exploiting the human race for centuries.

We think we're the masters
and they're merely pets,

but we're wrong, they're
the masters, and some day...

Well, I'll read your
evidence with an open mind.

I know I get carried away at times, but,

I simply must get my book
published to warn people.

Make them aware of what's
happening before it's too late.

You guard this with your life.

With your life.

I shall do my best.

Well, I'd better be getting back now.

I don't like to be out after dark.

There are too many of them about.

Yes, well I'll get your coat.

Thank you.

It's a strange thing.

Years ago, people used to believe

a cat was the devil in disguise.

I'm beginning to think they were right.

Well, I'll let you know
my decision about the book.

- Thank you.
- Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Come on, sweetheart, come on.

I can't deny you anything, can I?

There you are.