The Undying Monster (1942) - full transcript

Hammond Hall at the turn of the century...

when the age-old mystery of the Hammond
monster was at last revealed to all England.

That mystery, which although
by 1900 had become a legend...

was, indeed, a real tragedy
and constant threat...

to the lives of all the seemingly
doomed members of the House of Hammond.

- Oh, Walton.
- Oh, I beg your pardon Miss Helga.

- I didn't mean to startle you.
- Oh, I must've fallen asleep.

- It's cold.
- Yes, it's a cold night Miss Helga.

- I'll put on another log.

Don't bother, it's
12 o'clock, I'm going to turn in.

- My brother come in yet?
- Not yet, he's very late.



He and Dr. Colbert probably got to puttering
about the laboratory and forgot the time.

Don't worry, he'll be along directly.

I was thinking those poachers might be
up to their tricks on a night like this.

Come on Alex, long past your bedtime.

Charlie Clagpool was
saying down in the village...

he owed Mr. Oliver one for that
thrashing he gave him last week.

What is he expect?
Oliver caught him setting traps.

Come on Alex.

Go on boy.

- What's the matter with him?
- Sometimes dogs are smarter than folks.

Oh, nonsense, He's just smart enough to
prefer sleeping by the fire to the doghouse.

Go on to bed now and
behave yourself, hurry up.

- How big and bright the stars look tonight.
- Aye and there's frost on the ground too.

- It was just such a night when Sir Magnus...
- So that's what's worrying you.



Don't be silly Walton.

I only hope Mr. Oliver
doesn't take the shortcut back.

- That path by the edge of the cliff.
- Why shouldn't he?

When stars are bright on a frosty night...

Beware thy bane on the rocky lane.

Surely you don't put
any stock in that old legend?

It's only 20 years ago since
your grandfather was killed.

- Grandfather killed himself.
- After he'd seen it.

That's ridiculous, there's nothing
to that story about a monster.

Oh, I shall never forget that night when
I found your grandfather down there...

on that path by the edge
of the cliff after he'd met it...

so horribly mangled
and that insane look on his face...

That's absurd, a supernatural creature going
about killing and sending its victims mad?

People don't believe in
that sort of thing nowadays.

I'm sorry to worry you Miss Helga,
but I do wish Mr. Oliver were home.

All right, if it'll ease your mind,
I'll ring up and see if he's left yet.

Would you please get me Southdown 236?

Hello? Hello Helga.

Oliver? No, he left not
more than two minutes ago.

Yes, he said he's going straight home.

That's all right. Oh, I say Helga,
how about a ride in the morning?

No, that's not professional
advice, it's purely social.

Fine, about 10?

All right, I'll see you then, good night.

- He just left, that make you feel better?
- Thank you miss.

- Good night Walton.
- Good night miss.

- It's probably a dog caught in a trap.
- That's no dog.

Something is going on down there.

Miss Hammond, it's the monster,
killing Mr. Oliver, most like.

- Horrible it were, like a dog...
- Get a hold of yourself Will.

Sounds like a lost soul.

- All right, let's find out what it is.
- You're not going down there?

Just ready to make the carriage run.

Yes miss, Strudwick
he's got two bays harnessed.

Very well, we'll have the gates opened.
Mrs. Walton, fetch me a coat.

Don't stand there gaping
as if you'd seen a ghost.

But Miss Helga, no Hammond ever ventures
into the rocky lane on a frosty night.

You've been doing your best to persuade
me my brother is ventured down there.

- And if he has...
- Then I'll go with you.

Thanks Walton, but you
better stay and mind the house.

Yes miss.

Tell Strudwick to bring
the horses around to the front.

- Yes miss.
- And get me Oliver's revolver.

- Yes miss.
- - Miss Helga...

- please don't go out tonight.
- Don't worry Mrs. Walton.

I'm sure there's some rational explanation
for all this but if really there's...

anything out there tonight, I'd like to get
a crack at it and I'm a jolly good shot.

- I'll drive them Strudwick, get in.
- But Miss Helga...

Come on, good boy Alex. Maybe you can help.

Get in the back.

- It came from along here somewhere I'm sure.
- Miss Helga, won't you please go back?

- Give me your lantern.
- Yes miss.

Let me have the lantern, I'll go ahead.

Oliver?

It was only a rabbit.

It's a bit scary down here.

Oliver...

Oliver Oliver...

Alex...

- What is it?
- Mr. Oliver's dog.

His spaniel?

- Is he dead?
- Horribly.

His whole body is twisted
and his hind legs had been...

- Miss Helga, now won't you go back?
- Not until I find my brother.

Oliver...

He's still alive, thank heaven.

- Help me get him to the carriage.
- Yes miss.

- What was that?
- I don't know miss.

- Dr. Colbert's nurse.
- Kate O'Malley.

Don't stand there like an
owl, go and get some brandy.

Yes ma'am.

Hello Helga.

How I get into bed?

I found you in the lane on
the cliff and brought you home.

In the lane? But how...

I don't re...

Yes, I do remember.

I was fighting the...

- The beast got Kate, is she...
- She still unconscious.

We've done what we could for her.

- Must've gone for her after I fell it off.
- What...

What was it Oliver?

I, I don't know, I...

didn't see anything.

Well Oliver...

I'm glad to see you wake
and talking, that's a good sign.

- How's Kate?
- Still in a coma.

- She may or may not come out of it.
- But there is a chance?

Microscopic, but thanks to
your quick actions, still a chance.

Well, you're a pretty good nurse Helga.

There's nothing left for
me to do but a, a little tidying up.

Now tell me, what happened exactly?

I don't know exactly Jeff.

As I was leaving your house I...

I saw a glimmer of light on the
pathway leading up to the cliff.

So I went to investigate it.

I thought perhaps it might be somebody
setting traps, you know, the Clagpools.

But it was Kate O'Malley.

She left a few minutes
before I did, remember.

I offered to see her to the village and...

then suddenly I, I felt something...

- coming at us from all sides at once.
- We heard it.

Kate screamed and dropped the lantern.

Then I...

Then it, it, it closed in on
me like, like a blast from a furnace.

Only it wasn't hot, it, it was...

simply horrible.

Kate screamed again
and, then I was fighting it.

Fighting it in, in, in a darkness
that, that went all, all red.

All dark red until a, a, a splash
of fire split it up and put it out.

That must've been when I,
when I pitched on my head.

Then I woke in, in a light and...

- and saw Helga.
- You poor darling.

Helga, you're next. You're the only
Hammond left besides me, if I die...

Now what a minute old chap,
who said anything about dying?

The monster is never satisfied Jeff.

- Unless it kills its victim or...
- Now steady Oliver.

You mustn't excite yourself.

You needn't talk as though I
was a scared kid or a lunatic.

I tell you there's
something horrible out there.

Unless we destroy it, it'll destroy us.

Both of us.

Please try to put it out of your
mind now darling and get some sleep.

Here, drink this.

Make you feel better.

Poor darling.

It must've been a
shock for you finding him like that.

Was awful.

I can't help feeling that I'm
somehow to blame about Kate at least.

She'd been working late and I
should've seen her home I suppose.

But it's hardly a
stone's throw to the village...

through the shortcut, past your place.

Jeff, there's something
beyond all this that, that frightens me.

What is it? What is this thing
that's been hanging over us for years?

The village folk will insist that
the Hammond monster is returned.

You don't believe in
that superstitious rot, do you?

- Is it some basis for this sort of thing.
- How badly is Oliver hurt?

His wounds are deep but not serious...

fortunately, he's got
excellent recuperative powers.

- What with his mind?
- Seems unaffected.

Most anybody might...

be liable to forget exactly what
happened after a blow like that on the head.

Haven't you any idea what sort
of a creature made the wounds?

Oliver and Kate are badly mauled.

But there's no distinctive mark to
indicate exactly what attacked them.

It could've been a ferocious dog, of course.

Those poachers have
a couple of huge, vicious hounds.

Now look here darling, why don't you forget
about this tonight and try to get some sleep?

I'll run along, I'm sure by tomorrow
the police will find out what it was.

- I've done it Bob, it works.
- Really?

This must be our lucky day,
these tests turned out well too.

My dear boy...

all London knows that you
solved the Kensington murder...

With your scientific tests
when everything else failed.

But nobody is been able to do what I've done.

And what complicated
formula Christy have you proved?

- Here, taste it.
- Oh, no, thanks.

Go on, won't hurt you.

- Oh hello, Inspector.
- Hello.

I was about to come up and see you.

We collated the final
run-off tests on those bullets.

They all fired from the same revolver.

Inspector Craig, have a piece.

- What is it?
- Toffee, a new recipe.

Don't tell me that you've been using
our laboratory equipment to make toffee?

- Don't mind if I do.
- Don't touch it.

Mr. Curtis...

you may not think much of female detectives
but really, it's simply delicious.

The best I've ever made.

- Your pans...
- You used that pan?

Well, why not?
If making toffee isn't scientific...

But that's the pan that I
used for the hydrophobia culture...

- and it turned out positive.
- Hydrophobia, hydro...

That will fix her,
here inspector, help yourself.

No, thank you. She'll
have her stomach pumped.

It serves her right.

She's a good detective,
but she gets restless unless...

something is happening
that makes her blood run cold.

You know, her prime
passion is dabbling in the occult.

- Maybe the Hammond case would interest her.
- What's up Inspector?

Nothing tangible yet, but I'd
appreciate it if you'd look into it.

You might solve something
there with these gadgets...

of yours that's baffled us for a long time.

If those are orders Inspector, I'm ready.

Christy and I could
do with a weekend in the country.

I think it'll take longer than a weekend
and it might turn out to be rather dangerous.

Well, if you're thinking about Christy,
don't worry, she thrives on goose pimples.

Don't laugh at me Bob...

but I sometimes
think that there are some things...

that can't be explained in the ordinary way.

And I want to warn you.

You best be prepared to cope
with something perhaps supernatural.

- Oh, but, Inspector Craig...
- I know what you're going to say.

There's no such thing,
that from the viewpoint of science...

all phenomena have a material basis.

I've never yet met a case of...

ghostly interference that
wouldn't stand investigation.

That's why you're the man for the job.

- Miss Hammond is waiting in your office sir.
- Coming.

Here, read the report of
the case and then come up.

I want you and Christy to
look the Hammond girl over.

Right.

And that's all there was to it Inspector.

Yes, yes of course. You must
forgive me for asking you up to London.

Naturally, but there's nothing more
I can add that you don't already know.

You're sure there's
nothing else you want to tell me?

Ah, may I present Mr. Robert Curtis,
chief of our laboratory staff...

and his assistant, Miss Cornelia Christopher.

- This is Miss Hammond.
- How do you do?

You don't look like the sort of girl
who be mixed up in any trouble like this.

He said precisely the same thing to
Miss Coulter, the Sashway murderess...

- before he sent her to the gallows.
- Christy.

Oh, I'm sorry, my dear,
I didn't mean to shock you.

That's just my clumsy way of assuring
you that we'll find the murderer.

- But there's been no murder.
- No murder? Then, why am I doing here?

My dear Miss Christopher...

the Hammond case is
been in our files for a long time.

I knew your grandfather well.
He was a brave and gallant soldier.

I hardly remember
him, I was only a child when he...

Yes, yes, I know, my dear.

It's always been hard for me to believe
that such a fine man could kill himself.

Unless he had a very good reason.

Miss Hammond, Scotland Yard has no
desire to pry into people's private lives.

But we hope that you'd tell
us about the, well, the monster.

- A monster? Now we're getting somewhere.
- There's no such thing.

- But there is a legend.
- Yes.

To the effect that centuries ago, one of
your ancestors sold his soul to the devil...

and still lives in a
secret room in Hammond Hall.

Issuing forth at intervals make the sacrifice
of a human life in order to prolong his own.

I didn't think you knew the story.

I'm sorry Miss Hammond,
to have to bring a matter...

which I know must be painful
to you out into the open-

But we've done nothing to merit having our
name dragged through a newspaper scandal.

We'll keep the
investigation strictly undercover.

Then there is to be an investigation.

I'm afraid there's nothing we
can do about it, that's official.

Very well then, I'll help you all I can.

Oh, that's odd, we were
thinking we were going to help you.

Thank you, but I'm sure
I can take care of myself.

- When should we expect you?
- Oh, but we're moving in with you.

And I warn you, I've
got an appetite like a horse.

What a divinely gloomy old house.

Just the sort of place a
reliable ghost would haunt.

It's one of the oldest
inhabited houses in England.

We're coming to the shortcut, shall we stop?

Right, I'd like to have
a preliminary look around.

- Want to come along Christy?
- No, if you don't mind.

It's much too early in
the day to tax my poor brain.

Be a dear and
run me up to the hall, will you?

Delighted.

You think it's wise Helga to go
down there? After last night, I mean.

Oh, don't worry, when
Bobby gets on the trail of a ghost...

its haunting days are practically over.
Toodle-oo, see you at lunch if not before.

Golly, I'm famished.

I do hope that bloodthirsty
spook hasn't raided the pantry.

Oliver?

Hello Helga, I say old girl,
don't look so startled, I'm all right.

I woke before the scheduled time and...

even Jeff had to admit there
was no necessity for my staying in bed.

Oh, I'm sorry, this is my brother
Oliver. Mr. Curtis from Scotland Yard.

Glad to see you Mr. Curtis. Oh, it's
a bit late to do anything for poor Kate.

- She's...
- No, she's alive but still in a coma.

Even if we find the answer to this,
it won't help her much, I'm afraid.

I see the local police
are already on the job.

Yes, they just got here.

Not even the constable would venture
out in these parts until broad daylight.

- I tell you it was those Clagpools.
- No no Warren, we can't jump to conclusions.

We haven't found any tracks,
neither of them nor their dogs.

Constable, this is Mr. Curtis.

Oh Mr. Curtis, I've been expecting you sir.

Well, I got your wire sir
and nothing is been disturbed.

Interesting case you have here Constable.

I wouldn't exactly say
that interesting is the word sir.

- What about those poachers Constable?
- Why, could've been them, of course.

I'm afraid we're dealing with something
more serious than a couple of poachers.

- Have you examined the spaniel?
- We have that sir.

No teeth marks or other clues as to
nature of what attacked him, I suppose?

No sir.

Strange he didn't warn you
of the approach of your assailant.

I know it sounds fantastic, but is
there a possibility he didn't see it?

Even a supernatural being
would've to take on material...

form in order
to inflict such serious injuries.

No, I think perhaps
we can find an explanation...

for all this without calling an spook.

Could you tear a dog
that size to pieces Constable?

- Well, perhaps not.
- Two men could between them.

Or perhaps a large animal.

Oh, I might say yes, but nothing that
size has passed through here lately.

Now anything big enough to do a thing
like this would've to leave tracks.

Not necessarily, how about a big monkey?

I suppose you've checked up to find
out if one has escaped anywhere?

There's no shows in the vicinity sir.

- There's a zoo about eight miles from here.
- A monkey, seems a likely notion.

It's a possibility, of course.
Shall I check up on it sir?

- Can't do any harm.
- Right sir.

Who's that fellow in the velveteens?

That's Warren, Kate's fiance,
they were to been married.

Poor fellow, he's all broken up.

You don't really believe that ape theory?

No, but it'll give them
something to play around with...

then they won't have time to worry about me.

You have any theory at all?

It's too early to form an opinion yet but...

we have to figure on something
with almost superhuman strength.

Who tears with grasping
paws and bites ferociously.

Whose approach even a dog can't sense.

Who comes and goes, heaven knows
how, without leaving any tracks.

- Find anything?
- Nothing of any importance.

Mr. Curtis and Miss Christopher will
be stopping with us a few days Walton.

Yes sir.

Oh, my dear, I do hope you will forgive me...

but I prevailed upon your
butler to serve luncheon in here.

So much cozier than that
enormous, gloomy dining room.

I'm glad you did,
the fire feels good after that fog.

Miss Christopher,
I want you to meet my brother Oliver.

- How do you do Miss Christopher?
- Why, you poor dear boy.

What a ghastly experience that
must've been for you last night.

Oh. Oh, come and sit
by me and tell me all about it.

You know, I'm awfully
rude not waiting for you...

but luncheon comes but once a day
and I thought it was a pity to spoil it.

I could do with a couple of
those pork sausages myself.

I always make it a practice never to
hunt down ghosts on an empty stomach.

You know my dear, ghosts
don't like nice, warm rooms.

There doesn't seem
any point in tempting that...

spook of yours to
barge in while we're eating.

Don't tell me you've already
decided it's here in the house?

Well, you can laugh if you want
to, but there's something here.

Something strange, very strange.

I can feel it.

I should've warned you.

Miss Christopher suffers from an
overdeveloped supercalaphegalus.

- A super cala what?
- Feminine instinct.

Good gracious? What was that?

Door slamming I imagine, wind is come up.

I thought I heard someone scream.

It's probably Millie, the new maid.

Her hair is been standing
on end ever since last night.

- Maybe you better go and see Mrs. Walton.
- Yes miss.

Millie, what's the matter with you?

The monster, is here in the house.

- Are you out of your mind?
- I tell you is here, in there.

It slammed the door right in my face.

Be quiet girl, you
don't know what you're saying.

It's nothing in there.

Mr. Oliver didn't see
nothing last night either.

I tell you there's something
in there, even if there ain't.

Oh?

- What was that?
- I don't know.

- The devil was that?
- Clanking chains, what did I tell you?

Seems to be coming
from the direction of the crypt.

There's a crypt in the house?

Yes. Down in the cellar,
Sir Magnus is buried there.

Let's have a look around.

Splendid, maybe we'll catch
the ghost with his shroud down.

This place is colder
than a tax collector's heart.

- Everyone seems to be resting in peace.
- By daylight, at least.

Who's the crusader?

Sir Reginald Hammond,
he lived in King Richard's time.

- Was killed in Palestine.
- Is that supposed to be the monster?

- I told you there isn't any monster.
- If that's a lapdog, I'm a canary bird.

You make anything of it?

It might be meant for anything on four feet.

People have always
bred the dog into fantastic shapes.

That's no canine tail and
those round paws, it's rather curious.

- Who is this beautiful specimen of manhood?
- Sir Oliver.

Now, why would such a
handsome man want to kill himself?

It's a sort of a junior
Westminster Abby, isn't it?

Yes Miss Christopher, it's been the
family burying place for 500 years.

Oh Miss Hammond. You admitted that
there was a legend in the family.

Why not trot it out so
we can all have a look at it?

I've told you everything I know.

Well, you didn't tell us about
all these ancestors of yours...

who were killed by this so called monster.

Or who killed themselves after meeting it.

- Why do you insist on hiding...
- Now look here old man...

ls there by any chance a reason why you
don't want this brought out in the open?

Certainly not, I'm only thinking of Helga.

She's had enough to
worry her since the other night...

and I see no point in
upsetting her unnecessarily.

It's all right Jeff.

I'm sorry Miss Hammond,
I don't mean to distress you...

Exactly what is it you
want to know Mr. Curtis?

What about this chap who sold his soul to the
devil and is said to live in a secret room?

That's nonsense,
there's a secret room in this...

- It is nothing in it.
- How do you know?

- I've been in it.
- Lately?

I say Curtis, this isn't
a court of law, you know.

The room is been untouched for centuries.
We finally locked it up several years ago.

- Mind if I have a look at it?
- Not at all.

The key right here, come along.

- Coming, Curtis?
- Right.

They're going to the secret room.

- That Christopher woman suspects something.
- They won't find anything.

We shall see to it that they don't.

Would you add another
crime to all the others?

There are some things it's
better not to know about.

- Oh, I say Alex, what you doing here?
- You rascal, you scared us.

Wait a minute.

There's someone here, someone besides us.

Walton, what are you doing here?

I beg your pardon sir, I
didn't mean to startle you.

I was on my way to the cellar
to get some wine for dinner.

I wish you stop
sneaking up on people like that.

Can't you cough or sneeze or do
something to let a person know you're about?

Yes sir, I'm sorry sir.

It's just an excuse to keep an eye on me...

probably expects me to go out
and hang myself at any moment.

Oliver?

Don't worry darling,
I'm much too fond of this old earth.

Creepy sort of a chap that Walton.

He may seem odd to you, but he's
really a very kind, fatherly person.

- He's been with the family long?
- Ever since I can remember.

Seems to have something on his mind.

It's here.

There goes that old supercalaphegalus again.

Be quiet, don't
move, it's something in the air.

Something out of the ordinary.

- Something very strange.
- Nonsense.

It's no ghost or the dog would noted.

Your dog didn't notice anything
last night either, did he?

- That's right.
- That's odd.

I'd say that it rather neatly
disposes of the supernatural.

- It does Doctor?
- I'd say so.

Well, that seems to settle it.

When stars are bright on a frosty night...

beware thy bane in the rocky lane.

Pretty little ditty,
someone ought to set it to music.

Sounds like a pretty definite warning to me.

Yet you ignored it last night.

To tell you the truth, I
never took it very seriously.

Seems rather like flying in the face of fate
in view of what happened to your ancestors.

- Superstitious rot.
- Superstitions are often based on fact.

If you want to know more about it,
there's a family history in the library.

Thanks, I'll have a look at it.

How long did you say it was since
anyone has been in this room?

- Three or four years, at least.
- You sure?

- I have the only key.
- And you haven't been here recently?

Not since Helga and I came
here about three years ago when...

- When what?
- We decided to lock up the room for good.

- Why?
- For the simple reason we never used it.

I see and you haven't been here since?

Frankly Mr. Curtis, I don't see the
necessity for this cross examining.

If Helga and Oliver say...

Somebody is been in
this room within the last 24 hours.

Those are pretty
hefty footprints for a ghost.

- I told you there wasn't a ghost.
- Anybody could've made them.

Why, they could be mine, if
I'd had a key to get in here.

Well, let's see if they fit, eh?
Oh, I say I am a clumsy ox.

Unfortunate Doctor,
that you had to pick this...

particular moment in
which to lose your balance.

The last time I lost mine I had one too many.

Well, I'm terribly sorry, old man.

Why don't you send this
fellow Curtis packing?

One doesn't send a
Scotland Yard man packing Jeff.

You needn't submit to this sort of
thing, you know, this cross examination.

We still have laws that
protect a person's privacy.

- You don't like him, do you?
- I'm afraid I don't.

Look Jeff, you
deliberately smeared those footprints.

Why did you do that?

Don't you realize they might've been
anybody's? Mine, Walton's Oliver's.

Why should we let this
detective involve innocent people...

in an investigation
that's entirely uncalled for?

Mr. Curtis is trying to help
us and if we can help him...

Oh Miss Hammond...

I'll run upstairs, I want to look in on Kate.

He's pretty fond of you, isn't he?

Dr. Colbert is one of my best friends.

That undoubtedly
accounts for his aversion to me.

- You always analyze everything Mr. Curtis?
- Miss Hammond...

if your brother were killed last night, you'd
become sole heir to the estate, wouldn't you?

Why, I suppose so, why?

Then someone who knew this legend...

of the monster might've
used it to get rid of your brother.

Afraid I don't follow you.

With Oliver out of the way, your husband,
if you had one, would control the estate.

- You mean Jeff? That's absurd.
- Perhaps.

But why should a man of his ability bury
himself way up here in this little village...

instead of practicing
in London where he belongs?

Maybe you better ask him that.

Oh Doctor.

I wanted to get that book Mr. Hammond
mentioned, do you happen to know where it is?

Why yes, in this bookcase I believe.

That's curious.
Used to be right here, I've seen it often.

Looks like somebody else is interested
in the history of the Hammond family, eh?

I may have been mistaken, I thought it
was there, perhaps you better look around.

Or perhaps that's just one more
thing I'm not supposed to know about.

I remember now.

You practiced in
London, a couple of years ago.

Specialized in
nervous diseases. Yes, that's it.

You're a brain specialist.

I've had some little
success in that line, yes.

Why did you leave London?

Now look here, I resent your attitude.
My affairs happen to be my own business.

- And I'll thank you to bear that in mind.
- Sorry doctor...

but whether you believe it or not I'm trying
to help Miss Hammond and her brother.

And I have a feeling they'll need help.

The best way you can help
them is to go back to London.

Dr. Colbert, I'll make a deal with you.

You tell me frankly what you
know about all this and I'll drop out.

I'm sorry, I can't do that.

Have you any objection telling
me where you were last night?

- I was in my laboratory.
- I see.

I talked with Helga on the
telephone not two minutes before.

That's true Mr. Curtis.

Are you positive it was
only two minutes miss Hammond?

Things happened pretty thick and
fast about that time, you know.

- You could've miscalculated.
- Walton was right in the room with me.

- He'll verify it.
- I expect he would.

Dr. Colbert. Dr. Colbert,
come quick, is Miss Kate.

- The girl is dying?
- I'm afraid so sir.

Mr. Curtis, there's one thing
I feel you ought to know.

Yes'?

The other night Mr. Oliver and Miss Kate...

were mauled and
scratched as if by some wild beast.

- And that wasn't everything.
- Go on.

You know, with Miss
Kate hasn't come out of it.

But she isn't just unconscious.

Is as if she was...

Well, paralyzed or...

- drugged.
- Dr. Colbert tell you this?

No, I could tell by the look of her.

I know about such things.

But if you don't mind sir, I'd
rather you didn't tell anyone.

I won't unless I have
to Mrs. Walton and thanks.

From all I can gather
about this wretched spook...

you're not going to find it under that glass.

I'm not sure this wretched spook, as you
call it, was responsible for what happened.

Neither am I, what about that doctor?

He smeared up those
footprints deliberately, didn't he?

Don't tell me you had to rely on your...

feminine instinct to
arrive at that plain conclusion?

He knows more
about all this than he's telling.

- That's the trouble, they all do.
- The girl too?

All of them.

Oh dear and here at last I thought you
were casting sheep's eyes at a pretty girl.

Well, that doesn't prevent me from
knowing she's hiding something.

- Whatever can it be?
- I got an idea, but I need proof.

Would this interest you?

I don't know.

- Looks like a tuft of hair.
- The dog?

I don't think so, it's too coarse.
But what do you make of this?

- It looks like a scrap torn from a muffler.
- That's what I made of it.

- Whose do you suppose?
- That my pet, is for you to find out.

Do you mean to say that I got to steal
every woolen scarf in the neighborhood?

And without anyone catching you at it.

A fine detective you're
making me, turning me into the thief.

Good work Walton.

- I wasn't aware.
- That you were being watched?

You did a very thorough job Walton.

You needn't look so guilty, you know.
You'd make a very poor accomplice.

- Accomplice?
- Come now, what were you burning?

- Waste paper, we always burn it.
- In this room? That won't do.

You went out of your way to burn
something as you wanted to get rid of.

You chose this room because you
thought you wouldn't be seen.

Yes.

It wasn't waste paper at all, was it Walton?

No sir.

It was something you didn't want me to find
because you thought it might incriminate you.

That's not true sir, it was...

I'm sorry sir, but I can't say.

You realize this
puts you in a very serious position.

Walton...

I'm sure that you've given long
years of service to the Hammonds.

I know that you'd do
anything in the world to help them.

- Why won't you let me help them?
- Mr. Curtis...

leave Hammond Hall, go back
to London before it's too late.

Too late? What are you keeping from me?

There are some things that are beyond the
understanding of us who live on this Earth.

You're not safe here Miss
Christopher is in danger too.

Won't you go back?

I'm sorry Walton, but we've a job
to do here and I mean to see it through.

Very good sir, no one
can say I didn't warn you.

Strudwick.

Don't tell me you're
doubling for the monster?

Oh, I don't know anything about the monster.

You surely didn't come
here to say your prayers.

I don't see as it's any of your business.

You and Walton happen to be the
only two members of the household...

besides Miss Hammond who were up
and about when the attack occurred.

Mr. Curtis, I don't know anything
about the monster. I swear I don't.

You better tell me what
you're up to Strudwick.

Oh, so that's what those
ghost chains are all about.

I tell you, it ain't got
nothing to do with the monster.

But it does have something to do
with you being in the forest last night.

- Is she...
- Yes, she's gone.

Her body will have to remain here
till the police complete their investigation.

We better tell the others.

Helga, what is it?

Kate is dead.

I did everything I could for her,
she never regained consciousness.

We'll have to make a report to the constable
Helga, there'll be an inquest here.

Poor kid, why did it have to happen to her?

I tried to save her from it,
I battled with all my strength.

- Should've put up a better fight.
- You mustn't blame yourself Oliver.

I have the most awful premonition.

I'm sure it'll strike again.

Let me advise the witnesses
that they are under oath.

And it is their duty to
give the Coroner's jury...

all facts pertaining to this case.

Gentlemen of the jury...

your verdict as to the cause of the
death of the deceased Kate O'Malley...

is to decide the future course of action
in this case by His Majesty's government.

Your judgment will be guided by
the testimony of the witnesses.

And I wish to impress upon all witnesses...

that perjury in connection with
an official Coroner's inquest...

is punishable to the full extent of the law.

In the event of the jury
rendering a verdict of murder...

any witness withholding vital
information or giving false testimony...

will be regarded
as an accessory to the crime.

Now, will you take the stand please?

- Your name?
- Charlie Clagpool.

The constable's report states...

that you and your brother
Tom were unlawfully setting traps...

when the fight in which you
received a broken arm occurred.

We was in the woods all right.

We didn't kill Kate O'Malley.

We were nowhere near her and Mr. Hammond.

You've not been accused of that.

Is it true that on several previous
occasions you had words with Mr. Hammond?

That's right.

- What about it?
- That will be all.

- Mr. Strudwick, take the stand.
- Yes sir.

Did you see the Clagpools
on the night of the crime?

- I suppose I did.
- Can't you be sure whether you did or not?

Yes, I'm sure.

What were you doing in
the woods at that time?

- I was setting traps.
- Strudwick?

- Oh, that's impossible.
- I'm sorry sir.

- I needed the money, I did.
- And why didn't you tell us?

I couldn't, I'd been gambling.
I had to cover me losses somehow.

- I hid the chains in the chapel.
- Oh dear, there go my lovely ghost chains.

As the attending physician then...

you would say the cause of
death was due to, precisely what?

Concussion of the brain
and severe hemorrhage.

- May I ask the witness a question?
- Of course, if the witness has no objection.

None at all.

Dr. Colbert...

were there any contributing circumstances
other than those you just mentioned?

I don't know exactly what you mean.

The deceased was in a comatose
condition all the time prior to her death?

Yes. She never regained consciousness.

Could this have been caused by
anything else besides a blow on the head?

From a medical viewpoint that's possible,
but hardly probable, my examination...

I'm not questioning the
competence of your examination Doctor.

I want to know if Kate
O'Malley had been drugged.

Definitely not.

Thank you Doctor,
that's all I wanted to know.

- Have you reached a verdict gentlemen?
- Yes sir.

It is the opinion of this Coroner's jury
that Kate O'Malley died of injuries...

sustained during an attack
by a person or persons unknown...

or by a large, savage
animal, species unknown.

There you are Bob.

That's the verdict that's always
been given in these Hammond cases.

- What do you think?
- I think I'll be able to prove it's murder.

- Curtis, we can't touch the body.
- What body?

- Kate O'Malley's.
- Those villagers are a superstitious lot.

They're convinced that there's something
supernatural about it and they won't budge.

But I got to get a blood specimen.

Kate O'Malley's parents
have a legal right to refuse...

permission for an
autopsy but perhaps Dr. Colbert-...

No, no, not a chance, he
ascribed death to normal conditions.

Well, maybe it was a blind alley anyway.

However, here's
something that will interest you.

- Will you draw those blinds?
- Yes.

We traced down a bit of cloth from
a missing scarf Oliver Hammond's.

- I have a hunch that Walton destroyed it.
- Walton? Why?

That's what we're going to find out.

- Now, what did I do with that bit of cloth?
- Oh, here it is.

Oh, yes.

First, we take a sample of the thread.

Then we incinerate it thus.

Place it in this tube.

Withdraw the air because
the nitrogen and oxygen in air...

interferes with the desired
light bands of the spectrum.

Now we'll find out if this came from
the same muffler that Walton destroyed.

But if Walton destroyed...

Science doesn't recognize total destruction.

You change the form of matter,
but you can't actually destroy it.

You see those thick
groupings of lines at the left end?

That indicates that the
wool was dyed with one of the...

- coal tar dyes of the Paramino complex.
- Do you mean it's an unusual sort of dye?

Precisely, the Phenylene dye
is unstable and hard to handle.

That's why its use is generally
avoided, actually, it's toxic, poisonous.

Is that why you asked
if that poor girl had been drugged?

On the contrary, I'm positive has no
relationship with Kate O'Malley's condition.

I'm only trying to prove that this bit
of cloth was torn from Oliver's muffler.

This contains a sample of a
substance that Walton burned.

They're identical.

Then it was Oliver's
muffler that Walton burned.

Yes.

I've seen that look
of yours before young man.

I'm willing to wager that
you've about got your man.

- I'm not convinced it is a man.
- A woman?

- Animal, vegetable or mineral?
- It could've been a wolf.

Now listen, there been no wolves running
wild in England since the Middle Ages.

That's what stops me, but
what do you make of this?

I found this during my first
investigation at the scene of the crime.

Obviously the hair of a
large animal, a dog perhaps.

All right, get the spectrum slide of wolf's
hair out of my case while I mount this.

That shows the
spectrum analysis of wolf's hair.

- And here is the one I found.
- It's incredible.

Well Inspector, that
blows up your spook theory.

What's happened?

I don't know, it was sealed in this tube and
vacuum, it just couldn't vanish in vacuum.

Where's the rest of it?

- That's gone too.
- Was here a moment ago.

It seemed to
disappear when the light struck it.

Perhaps there are still some things in this
world that science hasn't found out about.

Everyone gone to bed Walton?

Oh yes sir, some time ago.

- Mr. Curtis come back from London yet?
- Not yet sir.

And Miss Christopher said he
would arrive on the late train.

- It's another bitter cold night sir.
- Yes.

You're not going out sir?

- Why not?
- There is frost on the ground.

Nonsense Walton, I'm only going
down to see if the gate's locked.

- Oh, but sir...
- Stop worrying Walton.

I shan't go near the rocks, I've no
wish to precipitate another tragedy.

Don't move.

Oh hello Doctor, come on in.

What the devil are you up to?

Forgive me old man, for breaking in
this way, I had to make a blood test.

There wasn't time to run down to my lab at...

Scotland Yard so I took the
liberty of availing myself of yours.

- I could've shot you.
- You could have, but you wouldn't.

You're pretty sure of
yourself, aren't you Curtis?

Sure enough of myself to know the blood
in this tube contains cobra venom extract.

Really?
That's interesting, whose blood is it?

- Kate O'Malley's.
- What are you driving at?

Quite a coincidence that this tube of
yours should also contain cobra venom.

- And what can that prove?
- One of two things.

Either you injected the cobra
venom into Kate O'Malley's veins...

or you deliberately
withheld the information that...

venom was in her
system at the Coroner's inquest.

There was no reason for mentioning it.

Had no bearing on the case.

- She didn't die from the venom.
- But you did inject it into her veins.

No.

It could've gotten there through the
scratches of whatever was that clawed her.

Possible.

That's not only possible,
but that's what happened.

And you know what the monster is.

- Yes.
- You've known all along.

- Well, aren't you going to tell me?
- I can't, it's not my secret.

Good heavens man, there's been one
murder, there's liable to be others.

Came from the direction of Hammond Hall.

It's here, it's in the house.

In Miss Helga's room.

- Where is it?
- There.

- Christy.
- Oh Bob.

- For a moment I thought you're the monster.
- Quick, I saw it, it's got Helga.

- What?
- Yes.

Mr. Curtis sent for us.

He slipped past you, you must've missed him.

- Dr. Colbert.
- Come on.

I'm afraid you're too late Doctor.

God rest his soul.

Amen.

From a medical
point of view it was a rare case.

You had hoped to cure him, wasn't that it?

I'd been working on
the theory that the shock of the...

cobra venom would eventually straighten
out the dreadful kink in his brain.

- Which he had inherited from his ancestors.
- Precisely.

Didn't he suspect that he
was a victim of lycanthropy?

No, no. In cases like this,
the patient must never know.

He thought he had a nervous affliction.

In the Middle Ages they called
such men werewolves, didn't they?

Now, Christy.

No, no, she's quite right,
you could put that in the report.

It was a form of mania that
caused its victim to imagine...

consciously or subconsciously
that he was a werewolf.

That book telling the history
of the family had a hint in it.

Oh, so you were the one who stole it.

- Yes, I hoped to keep you from finding out.
- That their ancestors were balmy?

Well, let us say rather...

that their ancestors handed it down
from father to son throughout the ages.

It appeared only in the men of the family...

and only when the
victim was out on a frosty night.

- They guarded the secret very carefully.
- But the butler knew about it.

We know that now,
that's why he burned Oliver's scarf..

It had been torn to shreds by his dog.

He was afraid we'd learn the truth...

knowing that a faithful dog
never attacks his own master.

You know Doctor, there were times when
we were about to put the handcuffs on you.

Yes, yes, I had to take that risk.

Well, I'll be running along now to see...

how Helga is, you
have all the information you need?

Thank you Doctor, my report is complete.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

- Goodbye.
- Goodbye.

- Quite a fellow.
- Oh, my goodness.

- Now what?
- I just happened to think.

I was sleeping in the next room the
night that wolf-man grabbed his sister.

- What if he'd grabbed me?
- Don't worry Christy.

Wolves will never bother you.