House of Usher

The House of Usher

- Sir?

- I should like to see Miss Usher.

I'm afraid that's not possible, sir.

Miss Usher is confined to her bed.

- She is ill?

- Yes, sir.

- Is it serious?

- Sir?

My name is Philip Winthrop.

Miss Usher and I are engaged

to be married.

I cannot admit you, sir.

You cannot?

- By whose order?

- Mr. Roderick, her brother.

- He has expressly forbidden...

- Well then I should speak to him.

I insist you announce me.

Yes, sir. You're our guest.

Come in.

Your coat, sir.

If you'd just follow me.

Yes? What is it?

Your boots, sir.

- What about them?

- Do you mind... taking them off?

Taking them off? What on earth for?

I am sure Mr. Roderick will explain

it to you, sir.

A strange request.

This is the first time I've

ever been...

Sir.

If you'd care to put these on, sir.

Thank you

And if we may go now...

This way, sir.

What is the meaning of this?

I... This is Mr. Winthrop, sir.

How dare you admit anyone

into this house.

I insisted, sir. I felt I had

the right.

Well, we can't talk out here.

Please, come in.

- I gather you know who I am.

- If you'd please...

Mr. Winthrop... softly.

An affliction of the hearing.

Sound of any exaggerated degree...

...cut into my brain like knives.

My apologies.

I'm afraid you are going

to leave, Mr. Winthrop.

I've come to see Madeline.

That is quite impossible

She is confined to her bed.

Mr. Usher, your sister and I

are betrothed.

- It was a mistake.

- I don't believe that.

Please, don't argue with me, sir.

You must leave this house now.

It is not a healthy place for

you to be.

Mr. Usher...

I have ridden all the way

from Boston to see Madeline...

- ...and I do not intend to

leave without seeing her. Now, if...

- Philip!

Madeline...

Madeline, in Heaven's name,

you must return to your bed.

Madeline...

You came all the way just

to see me?

Yes, to see you.

Madeline, I must insist.

- We shall talk later, Philip.

- Mr. Winthrop is leaving.

- Leaving?

- I'm not leaving.

He must stay, Roderick.

Please, let him stay,

Roderick.

Very well, he will stay.

Now, for pity's sake,

return to your bed

What happened?

I think your fireplace needs

the screen.

Does it?

I was just admiring this

painting here.

- Is it your own work?

- It is.

And... you also play this lute.

I do.

Mr. Winthrop, are you actually

planning to marry my sister?

Mr. Usher...

...during the time we spent

together in Boston...

it never occurred to me...

And I dare say to

Madeline neither...

...That we were not

destined to each other.

When she left me she said to me:

"I will love you forever".

Does it seem so incredible

that I would want to marry her?

If you only knew how incredible.

And I suppose this vision...

...includes children?

God willing...

God willing?

If you knew the nightmare you

are picturing for me, sir...

- Nightmare?

- That's what I said.

Why shouldn't Madeline marry

and have children?

Because the Usher line

is tainted, Mr. Winthrop.

- Tainted, sir?

- You saw Madeline and you see me.

We are dying, Mr. Winthrop.

As you saw her today she is

and she will remain...

Believe me, sir... I bear you

no malice.

Were things otherwise...

...I should welcome to our

family joyously.

But under the circumstances it

is quite impossible.

But why do you assume that...

...you are dying?

There are many reasons.

Pray, give me one then.

Madeline and I are like figures

of fine glass.

The slightest touch and we

may shatter.

Both of us suffer from a morbid

acuteness of the senses.

Mine is the worst, for having existed

along and the both of us are inflicted with it.

Any sort of food...

...more exotic than

the most pallid mashes...

...unendurable to my

taste buds.

Any sort of garment other

than the softest...

...is agony to my flesh.

My eyes are tormented by all...

but the faintest illumination.

All these assail me constantly...

...as I've said...

the sounds of any degree whatsoever

inspire me with terror.

That's why your servant asked me

to remove my boots.

Yes. And even so I could hear you

coming.

Every footstep. Every rustle

of your clothes.

I could hear your horse approaching.

Hear the clatter of the hoofs

across the courtyard.

Your knock!

The grating of the door bolt was

like a sword struck to my ears.

I can hear the scratch of the

rat claws within the stone wall.

Mr. Winthrop, three quarters

of my family...

...have fallen into madness.

And in their madness they have

acquired a superhuman strength...

...so that it took the power

of many to subdue them.

Do you not exaggerate, sir.

Perhaps there have been in your

family certain...

...peculiarities of temperament, but...

Peculiarities of temperament?

How diplomatically you put it!

Peculiarities of temperament.

Would you permit me to light a candle

so that...?

I think you had better leave, Mr. Winthrop.

I think you need some light in this

house, Mr. Usher.

Two pale drops of fire...

...clattering in the vast, consuming,

darkness.

My sister and myself.

Shortly they will burn no more.

She cannot leave this house, Mr. Winthrop.

Believe that or not as you will, but she

cannot leave it.

For her own sake as well as yours, will you

leave now, please.

No, I will not.

Very well.

Bristol will show you to a room.

I warned you, sir.

Whatever consequences may follow your

refusal to leave,

are upon you alone.

Yes?

Supper, Mr. Winthrop.

- I'll be down directly.

- Very good, sir.

- What is that noise?

- What happened?

- Is it Mr. Winthrop?

- Philip!.

- I'm all right, Madeline.

- What happened?

- I'm not sure.

- Philip, you'd better leave this place.

Please leave! It isn't safe for you.

Darling, I'm all right.

I'm not leaving you, Madeline.

- Mr. Winthrop?

- No, thank you.

My dear?

You haven't touched the thing, Madeline.

Don't you think...

...that crack in the wall should be

repaired?

For future generations of Ushers?

For Madeline's safety.

It was probably the trembling of

the house which caused...

that chandelier to fall.

Do you really think so?

Have you a better explanation?

While I was riding here, I noticed a

singular lack of vegetation in the area.

Is there something wrong with

the soil?

The soil?

Yes, of course.

- Roderick, please.

- As you will.

- How do things go in Boston, Philip?

- Everyone asks for you.

Do they?

We miss you, Madeline.

We all miss you.

Remarkable.

And you composed it yourself?

Yes.

May we have another?

I'm afraid Madeline must retire now.

But I am not tired .

Very well.

Good night, brother.

Good night, my dear.

Good night, Philip.

Good night.

I suggest we retire too, Mr. Winthrop.

Gladly.

I trust that you will be prepared

to leave tomorrow morning.

If you wish...

But if I do...

...I won't be alone.

I intend to see that...

- Oh, Philip

- Darling.

I'm sorry I frightened you.

I did not want your brother to hear.

Philip, I missed you.

I love you.

Madeline, I swear to you, tomorrow

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