Tormented (1960) - full transcript

On an island community off of California, Tom Stewart is preparing to marry the woman he loves. His plans are threatened by his old girlfriend, Vi, who shows up secretly. During a confrontation at the top of the island's lighthouse, the railing breaks and Vi falls. Tom has a chance to save her but doesn't. Tom's relief at Vi's accident soon fades when her vengeful spirit begins showing up wherever he goes...

T O R M E N T E D

(It's LUGENE SANDERS, actually.)

I once loved this island.

This is where I found peace and quiet.

The peace of waves
forever breaking on the shore…

the quiet of tranquil moonlight on the sea.

When the night wind rises
and the fingers of the fog steal in…

they say you can hear voices.
They say it's the dead…

growing restless
and calling to the living.

I never believed it…

until that evening Vi came looking for me.



But you always knew that marriage was out.
I've never lied to you.

But I always thought that…

Look Vi, whatever you thought
is your business.

But it's all over. It's finished!

You should never have come
here and you'll be doing yourself…

a favor if you take
the first boat back.

I can't go back without you!

Please, come back with me, Tom.
Just tell her you've changed your mind.

Nobody even knows I'm on the island.
I chartered a private boat over.

I won't even go back to the club.
I'll quit right now.

Vi, will you for heaven's sake
realize when a good thing is over?

A second-rate singer like me
doesn't fit in the picture anymore.

I hear she's quite young,
and has money too.

Vi, please understand.
I'm in love with her.



I need you, Tom! No one will ever
love you more than I do.

Sorry, Vi. I'm sorry for everything.

Good night, Vi.

I still have your letters.

I've never been in a lighthouse before.

Show me the light, darling.

What about the letters, Vi?

Oh, I never throw anything like that away.

You never know when
they might come in handy.

I wonder how she'd
feel if I read them to her.

Putting in pertinent footnotes of course.

Or maybe I have to show them to a lawyer.

I'm sure he'd know what to do with them.

How would a lawsuit fit in
with your music career, Tom?

How would the piano genius of
jazz feel about that kind of publicity?

Darling, you look as if
you were ready to kill me.

Now you get this straight!

I'm marrying Meg!

And you get this straight, Tom Stewart!

No one will ever have you but me.

Help me!

Please, Tom! Help me!

Take my hand!

Pull me up!

Save me, Tom, please!

Please.

Please, save me!

Please!

Tom! Tom!

Who is it?

It's me, Sandy.

- Sandy.
- What are you doing?

Sandy, look. Do me a favor, will you?
Run out and play somewhere. I'm busy.

I…

Don't you like me anymore?

Sure I like you. I love you.

I just want to be by myself.

Where were you last night?

The Emersons had a beach barbecue
and everyone on the island was there.

Meg was looking all over for you.

Sandy, please run along.

Okay. Sorry to disturb you.

I almost forgot!

The wedding announcements
came and mommy wants…

you to look at one
before we send them out.

There's only a week till the big day.

Yeah, okay, okay.

What's that?

Look what I've found!

I wonder whose it is.

Do you know anyone named Vi?

Uh.

No. I'll take care of it.

I've got to take it easy.
I didn't find any dead woman.

Only seaweed.

I know what's the
matter with me. I'm seeing things.

I'm letting my
imagination run wild.

My conscience? No. Why should it bother me?

I didn't do anything to Vi.

I didn't kill her. It's her
own fault she's dead.

She came out here of her own accord.

She leaned against the railing, she fell.

Wasn't my fault if it gave way.

Why should I be blamed?
I had nothing to do with it.

Anyway, nobody ever needs to know.

Nobody will even connect me with her.

Why should they?

Except for this watch of hers.

All right, Vi. That's the end of you.

Tom?

Meg!

Oh, Meg.

Hey, it's you!

Expecting someone else?

Oh, no, no. It's just that I
wasn't expecting anyone.

Uh…

What are you doing up here?

Looking for you. What are you
doing up here in this lonely lighthouse?

Well, I… at least it's quiet.
I, uh… I, I wanted to think.

I guess I'm worried about that
Carnegie Hall thing next month.

I wonder if I'm good enough.

Of course you're good enough.

You're the best jazz pianist in the world.

Darling. I never loved
anyone before in my life.

Nor did I.

Is that perfume?

It is perfume! Arpège!

It's so cold and gloomy in here.

It gives me the creeps having
that big lamp staring at us.

Didn't like it up here since
the light stopped working.

Glad they're going to tear it down.

Well, let's go outside
for the sun's warmth, uh?

Coming?

They're sending the gown tomorrow.
Oh, you're gonna love it, Tom.

Ooh! I was supposed to see
about a tie for dad and I forgot.

I'll be so glad when this whole
thing's over with, won't you?

It'll only be a week more.

We can wait that long, can't we?

I love you so much, Tom.

You do love me, don't you?

What is it?

Look.

Don't you see anything?

- What? There's nothing to see.
- Right there!

There's nothing there.

What's the matter?

Meg, I've got to get out of here.

Right away!

Meg, let's elope. We can catch a boat to
the mainland and be married this afternoon.

But the wedding?

Well, I was never for a big deal anyway.

I only agreed to it because you wanted it.

Doesn't it matter that I still want it?

Please Meg, please. Do this for me.
Just go away with me right now.

And I've told you that's impossible.

We've my mother and father
to think of as well as you.

Then I'll have to go by myself.

What about the wedding?

What about it, Meg?

If you go there won't be one, that's all.

Meg!

And now we will perform the
greatest of all magic accomplishments…

ever performed on this island.

The secret cabinet. As you will please
notice, the cabinet is empty.

Tom!

Tom, you're not paying any attention.

Don't you want to see the secret cabinet?

Oh, sure I do.
I… I wouldn't miss it. Go ahead.

If I close the doors to the magic
cabinet and say the magic words…

and tap it with my magic wand…

Abracadabra! We no longer
have an empty cabinet.

It is now filled with jelly beans.

Tom Stewart!

A fine one you are!

Oh, Sandy!

Sandy, if you hate me for
the rest of your life, I deserve it.

I couldn't hate you no
matter what you did.

No matter what I did?

No matter what.

Even like… fighting with your sister?

Meg's mad at me, you know.

She'll get over it. Besides, if she
doesn't, you'll be free to marry me.

Okay. From now on you're
the other woman in my life.

Okay, honey. You run along now,
I got some practicing to do.

I'll clean up your magic stuff.

- Bye!
- Bye, Tom.

♪ In my heart… ♪

♪ Lonely heart… ♪

♪ I'm tormented by my love for you ♪

♪ Empty arms… ♪

♪ I embrace… ♪

♪ The memory of you… ♪

Who's there?

It's Mrs. Ellis, Tom.

I brought you some flowers.

Is something the matter, Tom?

What makes you say that?

You sound upset.

Perhaps I'd better check you another time.

Oh, no. No, Mrs. Ellis.
Come here and sit down.

Thank you for the flowers,
they're lovely.

Sit down right here.

Mrs. Ellis, I want to ask you something.

It sounds kind of silly but,

would you believe that the spirits of
the dead can come back to haunt the living?

Do you believe in ghosts?

What makes you ask a thing like that?

You haven't answered,
Mrs. Ellis.

Nobody believes in ghosts nowadays.

Would you?

If anybody was to ask
me seriously, I would have to say no.

Of course,
a real estate agent runs into many…

strange things
in an empty house sometimes.

What kind of things?

Well, there was a family named Samuels.

They lived
in that last house down the beach.

One day their
little boy took his dog and went fishing.

They never came back,
and nobody knows what happened to them.

After the Samuels moved away I signed
three tenants during that first month,

but not one
of them would stay more than a few days.

Yeah, yeah, I know that story.
But that doesn't prove anything.

They complained about an unseen dog
whining and scratching at the door…

but that wasn't
what made them break their lease.

It was the cold up in the boy's room.

You could feel it in your bones,

a deathly cold.

The walls were
always damp and stained with sea water.

Whatever caused it,
the thing came back every night.

Did you ever see it, Mrs. Ellis?

It's been many
years since I've seen anything.

Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. I,
I keep forgetting that. Did anybody see it?

People say they found
wet seaweed on the boy's bed.

But you can't
call wet seaweed a ghost, can you?

Tom, what's wrong?

- Why do you ask that?
- You're running away from something.

Well, Tom?

Well.

Something I, I can't believe exists myself.

If it does exist,
you can't solve anything by running.

Then, on the other hand, if it
doesn't exist there's nothing to run from.

You're a very wise woman, Mrs. Ellis.

Thanks for talking with me.

Oh, and thanks for the flowers,

they're beautiful.

Come back soon.

Oh, go away.

Go away.

No, leave me alone.

No.

Oh.

Tom!

Tom!

Tom!

- No.
- Tom!

- Tom!
- Go away, Vi.

Go away.

Tom!

No!

Help me, Tom!

Help me!

Please, Tom!

- No, Vi, no!
- Help me!

Vi!

Vi, I…

Vi?

No. No, go away, you're dead.
Leave me alone.

I'll never be gone.

I'll always be with you.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Always.

Save me, Tom!
Save me!

Save me!

Save me!

Save me! Save me!

Oh!

Vi?

Vi!

You can't hear me, can you?

'Cause you don't even exist.

You're a shadow, perhaps.

A light, perhaps.

Nothing more.

But, Vi, just in case you can hear me,

I've come to tell you this.

I'm not going
to pay any attention to you anymore.

I'm gonna live my life right here.

I'm gonna stop running.

And I'm going to marry Meg, Vi.

I'm going to marry Meg.

That's all I came to say.

It's going
to be just as though you never existed.

I'm going to marry Meg.

Just in case you can hear me, Vi,

good night!

And goodbye!

No one will ever have you but me.

Well, hi!

There's Coke in the refrigerator.
Help yourself.

Okay.

Mrs. Ellis said you wanted to see me.

What about?

I, uh… sit down.

I wondered if you'd, uh,
talk to your sister Meg for me.

- Tell her how sorry I am.
- Okay.

You tell her I behaved like a little boy
and I'm ashamed of myself.

I'll tell her.

She didn't call anything off.

- She didn't?
- Uh-uh.

Guess she's ready to make up,

just like grown-ups.

Are you all ready?

Yeah, I'm all ready.

Have you got the ring, and everything?

Let me see it.

Okay.

It's gorgeous!

Meg sure is lucky.

Can I try it on?

Sure!

What I really want is one of my own.

Well, you might be just a little bit young.

I know. Dear little Sandy,
she's just a child.

Why, do you know how old I am?
I'm practically nine.

Why, in China
and Borneo and India…

and places like that,
girls already have husbands at my age.

I'd get married tomorrow
if I could find someone like you.

Can't I please try the ring?

I just put it on your finger.

- What on my finger?
- The ring.

I don't have the ring.

What's the matter? Did you drop it?

Couldn't walk far.

It's gotta be here somewhere.

Sandy! Sandy, don't touch it.

- What, Tom?
- That, right there!

There's nothing there.

Sandy. Sandy, tell me the truth.
Didn't you see anything right there?

There wasn't anything to see.

- You hurt.
- I'm sorry.

Well, I'll…
find the ring later.

You run along now, Sandy.
I gotta finish my practicing.

Goodbye, Sandy. I'll see you later.

All right, Vi.

I know now you've come back.

But it won't do you any good.

Because I'm going to marry Meg.

Now, what'd you do with the ring, Vi?

Vi?

What did you do with that ring?

Meg!
Meg, I wanna talk to you.

Hey!

I love you!

But I don't
understand what you're going to…

All right, no more questions.

- You know what's wrong with you?
- What?

You've been working
too hard getting ready for your concert.

You've had a lonely life here on the island
without any of your musician friends.

It's been getting you down.

But I'll take
care of all that once we're married.

Maybe you better tell your mother
that the wedding's on again.

I never told her it was off.

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

You know, the first thing
you're going to do is have a long vacation.

A whole month's honeymoon in Europe.

You know how many hit
records I'd have to sell to pay for that?

Dad's footing the bill.

It's his wedding present to us.

He wanted to tell you himself but he
won't be here right before the wedding.

And when we get
back I'm going to have a big party…

so I can get to know all your friends.

Big party?
We'll be living in a three-room apartment.

Mother and daddy won't
mind if we use their house in Bel Air.

They say now that I'm getting
married it's too big for them anyway, so…

they'll be turning it
over to us for good one of these days.

Are you trying to spoil me?

There's nothing I'd like better.

Come up to the house a minute.
I want you to see something.

- What?
- My wedding gown.

Ain't that supposed to be bad luck?

You're not superstitious about things
like that, are you?

No, I'm not superstitious.

My garden's full of roses
this month…

and it seemed about
time to bring you some fresh ones so…

- Hi.
- Hello.

Well, hello stranger! Where have you been
keeping yourself lately?

Some beautiful gifts have arrived and
you haven't seen any of them.

Hey, look at this!

But you're a dear anyway.

- Champagne!
- Fix your drink.

Look! Another one!

Oh, there's my girl.

- Hi, pal.
- Hi.

Is everything made up with you and Meg?

Well, I'm working on it.

- Hi, Ms. Ellis.
- Tom.

Another pair.

People must think newlyweds
live on lettuce by candlelight.

This make 9 pairs of
candlesticks and 12 salad bowls,

and more coming every
time the mailboat arrives.

Meg got her wedding gown today
and, Tom, it's simply a dream.

What a bride goes through to make
herself attractive for you men.

It took three fittings
to get the bodice right.

And three layers of net to
make the skirt full enough.

Well, hardly seems worth it.

After all I'm only marrying her
so you'll be my mother-in-law.

Sandy, see if there's a window open.

There's a cold draft all of a sudden.

What's that sweet spell?

Must be the fresh roses.

My roses never smelled like that.

It's a woman's perfume.

Help me make room for these, dear.

In my day
it wasn't candlesticks, it was teaspoons.

Mr. Hubbard and I received no
less than 78 of them when we were married.

Maybe that's the reason for his attitude.

When he went back
to the mainland he said he was going…

right to the
office and stay there until the wedding.

I'm sure you'll never
treat your wife like that, will you, Tom?

Or will you?

He isn't here, mother.

Where is he?

I think Meg took him to look at the dress.

My wedding dress!

What is it?

What did she find?

Seaweed.

Tom?

Yes, Mrs. Ellis. I'm in here.

I've brought you some honey.

Don't get up.
I'll just put it on the bar here.

Thank you, Mrs. Ellis.

I really brought the
honey only as an excuse…

because I know you're upset.

Tom, there's nothing supernatural
about what happened to Meg's dress.

There must be a logical explanation.

I know, I know.

That seaweed.

It's just like that Samuels boy.

There've been no recent deaths, Tom.

No.

Anyway, I'm sure of one thing.

I've had enough of her.

Who are you talking about?

Oh.
A friend I used to have, a girl named Vi.

She came over here to the island to see me.
We…

But we quarreled…

up in the lighthouse and…

Well, at any
rate she went back to the mainland.

Are you sure that's what happened?

What do you mean am I sure?

Well, maybe
she didn't go back to the mainland.

Maybe this girl Vi is still
here and is playing tricks to get even.

Now where do you
suppose a woman could hide on this island?

Who's hiding?

Never mind, Sandy.

Things will work out.

You'll see.

Mrs. Ellis! Mrs. Ellis!

Why are people always saying never mind?

Because
there are some things that grown-ups…

don't want
children to know about, Sandy.

Those are
always the most interesting things.

Who is Tom looking for?

Never mind.

Bet he's looking for at the lighthouse.
He's always hanging around there.

The lighthouse
is a very dangerous place, Sandy.

It'll soon be torn down.

That doesn't keep people from going there.

But you mustn't go there, Sandy.

Not ever.

Run along home now.

Come on, Fritz.

What's the matter, Fritz?

I'm surprised at you!

You're being as silly as Tom.

All right. I'll go alone.

Young lady.
Young lady.

Why,

that's a lovely perfume you're wearing.

It's no use.
I know you're in here somewhere.

I can hear you too.

Don't you think it's ridiculous to hide?

Come down.

There's something I want to say to you.

Very well.

If you won't, then I'll go up and find you.

Listen to me, please.

I don't usually give people advice,

but Tom is a dear friend
and I want to ask you to leave him alone.

Are you listening to me?

You might
at least have the politeness to answer.

My, that's a nasty laugh you have.

What tricks are you up to now?

Wait!
Listen to me.

You know you're worrying and frightening
Tom half to death.

It's not hard
to sense how desperate he's getting.

I know Meg doesn't concern you…

but you wouldn't want to
make an innocent person suffer, would you?

I wish you'd speak more clearly.

You're trying
to make me sorry for you, I suppose.

But I can't help thinking how
foolish you are playing this absurd game.

Stand still and let me talk to you, please.

You've caused those
two people all the unhappiness you need to.

It's time you stopped!

You don't belong here, you know.

Why don't you leave Tom and Meg
alone and go back?

What are you saying?

I can't hear you.

What a fiend you are!

You're not fooling me.

I know exactly what you are.

It's not fair.

You're getting
the party, the presents, the husband.

I get nothing.

Be nice to me, peanut. In two more days
I'll be a married woman and you'll miss me.

I'll miss Tom more.

Sandy!

How's my family?

Daddy!

Am I too early or too late?

I'm so happy you made it in time.

You don't think I'd let my daughter marry…

without her favorite father
being around now, do you?

Roll up your sleeves and pitch in. The
party's right after tomorrow's rehearsal.

- Hi, honey.
- Frank.

Where's the groom?

- He's not feeling well.
- What's the matter with him?

He's been overworking.

At the piano, I suppose.

Please don't start that again.

It's bad enough
to accept a musician into this family,

but a jazz
musician is asking too damn much.

Why don't you go to bed, dear?
You must be tired.

What's the matter with a jazz musician?

Be still, brat.

Poor Tom.

Tom!

Tom!

Tom?

Do you live here, kid?

Can't you hear or something?
I asked if you live here.

In the lighthouse?

No, on the island.

On the island!

Why do you wanna know?

Look, kid.
I really don't care.

I'm looking for a guy called Tom Stewart.

You know him?

What do you want him for?

He won two hundred thousand on a
sweepstakes ticket.

I'm here to give him the money.

I don't believe you.

Look, kid.
You know where he lives?

What you looking for, dad?

Not much to see out there, huh?

Oh, wow. Crazy pad.

Aren't you lost, buddy?

Oh man, this sure is.

Hey now, wait a minute.

What is this?

Look, I don't want
nothing from you, dad. I really don't.

She owes me a fin, that's all.
I thought would be nice to have.

What are you talking about?

No sweat, dad.
I don't want nothing from you.

She owes me a fin, that's all.

Wow, you sure have a nice pad, dad.

Now look, I don't mean to be rude…

but you'll either have to tell me what
you're talking about or get out of here.

Look. The blonde, the one with the…

She owes me some bread.
That's all. Nothing to get bugged about.

What she does here is your own business.

I can see you dig me, dad.

Look, I motor this
chick, Vi Mason, over to the island.

I got a boat. Now, when she asked
me if I take her, well, I say okay…

but she said she doesn't have the change.
This is what she said.

Okay. So we make a deal.

Five bucks over and five bucks back.

Now look. I haven't the faintest
idea who or what you're talking about.

Look, dad.
All I want is the bread.

When she didn't
show by morning I figured I'd been had.

And I know she didn't go back
on the regular one…

because I asked
a putt-putt jockey and he said no.

Now, I'm a real square, dad.

I didn't remember
the name of the guy she said.

Today I remembered.
How do you like that?

Tom Stewart.

That's the name of
the guy she said when we made the run.

So, enough of this jazz, dad, come on.

I have to leave.

- Get out.
- Well.

Maybe I better
wait around until the chick shows.

You'll do nothing of it.

All right.

Maybe it's worth
it five dollars just to get rid of you.

Here.

There you go.

What you do is your business, dad.
All I want is what's coming to me.

I'll be right with you, Mrs. Ellis.

There you are.

- Plenty of pickle?
- Yes siree. Plenty of pickle.

How are you, Mrs. Ellis?

Warm, Mr. Nelson.
It's a very warm day.

I think I'll have something light.

Uh, egg salad sandwich and a glass
of iced tea with lemon.

Don't like
sugar in my tea but plenty of lemon.

Well, how about a
nice hamburger or a tuna fish salad?

What's the matter with your eggs?

Oh, nothing's the matter with them.
I just don't have any.

I've been
out of eggs for almost a week now.

Farmer's hens just stopped laying.

It's a funny thing.
Nothing like this ever happened before,

except once.

About the time the Samuels boy died.

They're just up in quit lane.

Would you like a tuna fish salad?

Just the iced tea.

Right.

Say dad, can I have a Coke?

All right.

The Hubbards had
to send over to the mainland specially,

to get some eggs for their party.

Can't bake a cake without eggs.

Speaking of the wedding,
are you still there, Sandy?

Yes ma'am.

Shouldn't you be at the rehearsal?

Holy cow!
Charge it, Mr. Nelson.

You know, Mr. Nelson, I wish I could
have my sight back,

long enough
to see Tom and Meg married.

They must be a lovely couple.

I'd give anything to see them.

They're a handsome couple all right.

Tom Stewart's marrying a beautiful gal.

The nicest of families, too.

Say, dad. What did you say
the handle of the guy getting spliced was?

Tom Stewart.
Girl's name is Meg Hubbard.

And little Sandy will be standing
here to my right, next to the bride.

And then the groom of course
to her right and you'll be standing here.

The parents will be in their pews and…

May I help you?

Yeah. I want to speak to Tom Stewart.

Excuse me.

You're interrupting
a wedding rehearsal in there.

Like I said,
dad, what you do is your business.

I mean, it's crazy with me if you want
to marry one chick…

and keep another one
on the side for kicks. Wow.

But I feel sort of a responsibility,

seeing as how I brought
your broad over…

on my tug.

- See what I mean?
- What are you driving at?

Come on, dad.
Don't you know?

I gave you the money you're after.
What more do you want?

Well, it seems that our
deal is in line for some renegotiations.

Tom, hurry! We're waiting for you.

Yeah, go ahead back.
We'll pick it up later.

Time I got plenty of.

Tomorrow night I'll be Mrs. Stewart,
isn't that right, Mr. Stewart?

I'll be right back.

Oh, please Tom, just one more.

- Oh, I uh, I wanted to get a drink.
- Here. I'll get it for you.

Just one more number.
I want to show you off.

Sorry I startled you Tom,
but candids are the best kind.

I had my mouth open and my eyes closed.

This'll be the worst picture ever made.

If you don't like it I can take another.

No.

- No, that's fine.
- Are you sure?

- Yeah. I'm sure.
- Here, let me see.

No.
I'll get a drink.

Tom, what's wrong with it?

Nothing.

It's only a picture. Why are you so upset?

I'm not upset.

Well, something's bothering you.

Is it another girl?

You can tell me.
I, I'll try not to be jealous.

Jealous.

Who could be jealous of Vi?

She's dead. She doesn't exist.

She's a… perfume.

She's a footprint. She's a hand. She's a…

face in a picture.

Who could be jealous of Vi?

You're talking crazy, Tom.

- Let me see the picture.
- No!

You're not making any sense.

That's her face between the two of us.

I don't see anything.

Except… you and me.

Did you put out the lights?

What's the matter?

You don't look too happy.
You ought to be.

You're getting married tomorrow.

I sometimes wonder the way
Tom's been acting lately.

Anything Tom does is all right.

He's perfect in your eyes anyhow, isn't he?

Don't worry, Sandy. I love him.

I suppose every girl has
a few last-minute doubts.

Because he's always around the lighthouse?

Because he imagines things that aren't so.

Everything will be all right.

It's late!

I'll get the window.

There's a light up there.

I wonder who it could be.

A boy and a girl probably.
You wouldn't understand.

I would too.
They used to go there to neck.

Not anymore.

Everybody says it's too cold
and damp and smelly.

Does Tom go there with anybody?

Or, does anybody meet him there?

Now who's imagining things?

You're right.

Besides that's probably only a reflection
of the moonlight on a loose pane of glass.

Tom.

Tom.

Tom.

Where are you?

I'm over here.

Vi, where…?

What do you want?

I want you, Tom.

I want to save you from your own mistake.

My only mistake was in knowing you.

And the only way you could correct it was
for me to die, wasn't it?

It's not my fault you're dead.

- Isn't it?
- I couldn't have saved you.

Couldn't you?

Maybe you can make
yourself believe that but not me.

I was there, remember?

You had to shut me up
so you could marry Meg.

You got away with that all right.
But now what are you gonna do?

I'll never let you marry Meg.

You belong to me, Tom.

You belong to a ghost.

That's the trouble
with making one first slip.

You have to go from bad
to worse to keep it quiet.

What would you do if Meg gets wise to you?

Stop her the same way you stopped me?

I didn't kill you, Vi.

I never killed anybody and I never will.

And once I'm married…

I'm going to live a very happy, very
normal life with Meg and with our friends.

And there's really nothing
you can do about it.

Isn't there?

You may have noticed
I've found my voice now.

I pick things up fast.

I'm going to use it
to tell the world about you.

I told you, Tom.
No one will ever have you but me.

Stop it, Vi!

Try and make me.

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

Tom Stewart killed me!

- Give me that.
- Don't be in such a hurry, dad.

You're always in a hurry.
You shouldn't be like that.

Give me that.

I just want to talk to you, chum.
A nice friendly talk, that's all.

Give me that!

You look sick, dad.

Something's wrong.

Look, are you gonna talk to me or not?

Let's get this thing over with.

Just what is it you want?

Like I said, dad.
All I want is what's coming to me.

You know, the way it looks to me,
we should be sort of partners.

I help you and you help me.

I bring your playgirl over to the island…

and I figure it's worth
some sort of service to you.

To sort of buy something from me.

Like a silence service catch.

The word you're reaching for is blackmail.

That's not it at all, dad.
We should be sort of pals.

I've done you a favor,
now you can do me one.

In other words, if I don't pay you
blackmail, you go to my fiancée…

and expose my life of sin. Is that it?

Well, you're saying it rather crude,
dad, but you're getting the idea.

But it won't do you any good.

I'm not gonna pay you one lousy cent.

In the first place I don't
know a girl named Vi…

and even if I did it
wouldn't do you any good.

Because unfortunately I'm not
sharing my cottage with anyone.

If it makes you feel better,
you can look for yourself.

That's not necessary, dad, not at all.
You see, I already have.

Well, then you know she's not here.

Well, yes and no.

You see, when you were so
eager to cope with that five spot,

I figured you were, well… anxious
to keep everything sort of quietlike.

Now when I find out you're
getting spliced to another chick,

well, the story's even
getting better to read.

Now here comes the part I like the best.

I do a little snooping
when you're not around.

What do you think?
Uh?

You still with me, dad?

Go on.

You see, that's the punch line.

That's the gimmick.

If this doll Vi isn't
hiding in your cottage…

and she isn't any place
else in the island…

and she never left the island…

Now, what do you suppose
could have happened to her, huh?

You tell me.

You're a comedian.

You're the one that has
the rest of the answers.

You know something?
Everything you've just said is all bluff.

You don't know a damn thing.

That's not friendly, dad.
Not friendly at all.

In fact I thought
you'd take a wrong outlook on things,

so I sort of borrowed something…

from a friend of yours.

Let's get out of here.

I can see that you finally dig me, dad.

What do we come up here for?

So that you and I can
have a little talk, in peace and quiet.

It's cold.

Just what d'you want?

Five thou.

Five thou?

And don't tell me you've not got.

Your future father-in-law is loaded.

Tom. Tom.

Vi.

Who you talking to?

You didn't hear anything?

I didn't hear a thing.
I'm waiting to hear something from you.

They're closing in on you, Tom.

You'd better take care of him right now.

No.

Yes.
That's your final answer?

Well, I didn't…

Give me a minute.

He's so easy, Tom.

Just I easy as I was.

Go ahead.
There's a piece of pipe behind you.

One good blow is all it takes.

You got rid of me, but you'll never
get rid of him as long as he lives.

He'll bleed you of every penny, Tom.

And all the time you'll have him
hanging over you.

What if people find out?
What if Meg finds out?

You can't let him do it, Tom.
You'll lose everything.

Look, you've had enough time.

Do I get the money or don't I?

Yes, Tom. Does he get paid?

No.

All right.

You know what's best.

See what your chick has to say about this.

Kill him, Tom!

Wait.

Changed your mind?

Kill him, Tom!

No.

Kill him!

Sandy!

Sandy, come here.

Sandy, did you hear your mother call you?

What is it?

Drop whatever you're doing
and come here at once!

All right.

Oh, Sandy! We have to be at the church in
20 minutes and you're not even dressed yet.

Never mind that now.

Meg snagged her hem.
Come and hold it while I tack it up.

You'll make a lovely wife, Meg.

Thanks.

Meg?

Do you really love him a whole lot?

Whatever makes you ask a thing like that?

Last night you said you weren't sure.

Well, I'm sure now.

Oh, you'll remember to take the bouquet
when I hand it to you, won't you?

I'll remember.

Suppose he'd done something awful bad.

The way I feel now
I'd marry him no matter what.

Oh, don't forget, you stand close
behind me but not too close.

There. That's done.

And you young lady
get into your gown this instant.

Mrs. Hubbard loaned us her ring in place
of the one you lost, so that's okay.

I've got the minister's fee here in my
pocket and everything's under control,

- so snap out of it.
- Okay, okay. I'll be all right.

Then get that funereal look off your face.

This is a wedding, man!

Cheer him up, honey.

Well, that's… it's a pretty dress, Sandy.

You're really gonna marry
my sister, aren't you?

Why do you feel like that?

I can't help it.

Suppose you love somebody.
Somebody who did something bad…

and only you knew.

Would you keep it secret?

Well, good friends generally
try to stand by one another.

But what if it were
something real, real bad?

Real real bad like what?

Murder.

Dearly beloved,
we are gathered together here…

in the sight of God,
and in the face of this company,

to join together this man
and this woman…

in holy matrimony;

which is an honorable estate,

instituted of God,
signifying unto us the mystical union…

that is betwixt Christ and his Church.

Is not by any to be entered into…

unadvisedly or lightly,

but reverently, discreetly,
advisedly, soberly,

and in the fear of God.

Into this holy estate…

these two persons present
come now to be joined.

If any man can shew just cause, why
they may not lawfully be joined together,

let him now speak, or else hereafter
for ever hold his peace.

Vi?

Vi?

I've come to tell you you've won.

I'm sure you're glad to hear that.

I'm going away, Vi. I'm not coming back.

Vi?

Vi, I'm running out on Meg.

I'm not coming back.

Sandy.

What are you doing here?

I followed you.

Why did you have to kill him?

I knew something would happen.

I was against the marriage
from the beginning.

Let me help you with your gown, dear.

Don't bother, mother. Sandy'll help me.

Sandy, help your sister.

Where is Sandy?

I thought she came home ahead of us.

Well, if she did she's not here now.

I wish you hadn't seen it, Sandy.

Now I'm afraid you'll
tell everybody and I don't know what to do.

I won't tell.

But how can I be sure of that?

Good friends protect each other.

Yes.

But sometimes they can't help themselves.
Things… leak out.

Police hear about it.

Do you know what would happen if the
police heard about this?

I'd go to the gas chamber.

Sandy!

Sandy, why did you have to see it?

I couldn't help it.

No. Nobody could help any of it except me.

I could have saved Vi.
I could have put my hand out to her.

Instead I killed her.

Sandy?

Sandy, you…
know I love you very much, don't you?

Thank you, Reverend.

She isn't there.

I can't imagine where she could have gone.

Where's Tom?

The least he could do is be
here when Meg needs him.

Can't you leave him alone?

There's a light in the lighthouse.

Sandy could be there.
She talks about the place all the time.

Oh, I don't think she'd go
there at night, though.

We'd better make sure.

Why are we going up there?

Let's go up and look at the sea.

You're not afraid of me, are you?

I never used to be.

Come on in.

When the moon shines you can see
the whole island from up here.

You didn't tell anyone we were
coming up here, did you?

I didn't tell them anything.

Good.

Good.

Let's go back.

- You afraid?
- Yes.

Sandy.

Sandy, why did you have to see it?

Tom.

Tom.

Here! They're bringing him now.

It's not Tom. It's a woman.

Who could that be?

Where did you find her?

Right in the rocks.

She's been down there a week, I'd say.

They're bringing him now!

Tom!

THE END