Howling IV: The Original Nightmare Page #2

-[INAUDIBLE].

Good afternoon, sheriff.

My dog is missing.

It's a white poodle.

-Dogs run off all the time.

Folk around here don't get too concerned.

There's no big animals hereabouts.

-Then what's that howling?

-The only howling I ever heard was a coyote,

and that was a good many years ago.

Well, do you think you can keep a lookout for him, please?

[GROWLING]

-Oh god.

Richard, what time is it?

-7:
15.

I have an 11:
30 appointment with those design people down in LA,

remember?

-Oh god, it's Tuesday, isn't it?

That's right.

-All day.

Look, I'll be back before sundown, OK?

-Oh, Pierre won't starve out there.

He'll be back just like a man with his tail between his legs.

You don't believe that, dear?

-I'd like to, Mrs. O. It's just that there's

something so sinister about these woods.

Every night I've been hearing this howling.

-Well, it's probably just owls.

The woods are full of them.

-It sounds so evil, though.

-Things always sound scarier at night.

Why, Mr. O's snoring scares the bejesus out of me.

Don't let it worry you.

-I know.

It's probably nothing.

You're probably right.

Who used to live in the cottage?

-Oh, a lovely couple.

She was a dear.

Nothing was too much trouble for her.

And one day, they just up and left.

Never said a word.

I still miss them.

Well, it's time you were off.

It's going to get dark, and forests are tricky things.

I've noticed you don't drive.

-No.

Doctor's orders.

-Well, you better be off.

-Thank you for listening.

-All right.

-I'll see you.

-Bye.

-Bye.

-Who was she asking after?

-About the couple that had the cottage before them.

-Oh?

-Excuse me?

-Marie?

-I'm sorry.

I thought-- I thought it was a--

-Are you all right?

-Yeah, I'm fine.

I just-- I thought you were somebody else.

-You're going back to your cottage?

-Yeah.

-If you go that way, across the swing bridge,

it's much quicker for you.

-Thanks.

Richard!

Richard!

-Marie, what is it?

What is it?

Now, calm down. what is it?

-Something's following me, Richard.

-What are you-- what are you talking about?

-Something's following me out there.

-Hey, Marie, what in the hell happened?

-I found Pierre.

I found just his head.

And then something was following me through the woods.

I could feel it.

-Marie, now, calm down.

Now, come on, explain to me what happened.

-It was in the cave by the swing bridge, you know?

And then something was following me, Richard.

I could feel him follow me all the way home.

He's out there.

I feel him.

-All right, honey.

Come on.

Come on.

Come on.

Calm-- calm down.

I'm gonna go see.

-No, Richard, don't go.

-It's OK.

I'm gonna go see.

-Richard, don't go out there.

-Honey, it's OK.

-Don't leave me, Richard.

-It's OK.

I'm gonna go see.

It's OK.

I'm gonna get the doctor.

-Oh, Richard.

Tell me it'll be all right.

Just hold me, OK?

-Go away.

FEMALE SPEAKER (OFFSCREEN): Go away, my child.

[HONKING]

-Hi.

-Hi, are you Marie Adams?

-Yes.

-I'm Janice Hatch.

I'm, uh, here on vacation.

Well, actually over at the Twin Forks Hotel.

And I-- I hope I'm not being too forward,

but I'm a big fan of your books.

And when I heard you were down here,

I really wanted to meet you.

-Come on in.

I just made some coffee.

Come on.

-I'm not interrupting or anything?

-No.

Of course not.

Don't be silly.

Come on.

[BELLS RINGING]

-Hello, Richard.

-I was just, uh, passing by.

And I thought-- well, I remembered

that my wife wanted some artists' supplies.

-So?

-It was a great book, but how do you keep all those characters

and complicated events straight?

-It's hard to explain.

I see it in my mind, almost as if it's real.

-Anything else?

-I thought maybe a present.

-Something special?

-Something like this.

-You have very good taste.

It's got great detail.

-I just love it here during the day.

During the night, though, I get so scared.

I keep hearing these sounds that really frighten me.

It's probably because I'm just a city girl.

-What sounds?

-Well, it's like these howling sounds.

-Howling?

-Yeah, have you heard that?

-Me?

No.

No, but a friend of mine used those same words.

-What, she heard it here?

-I'm not sure.

-Well, what?

What'd she say?

-Well, until recently I-- I was a nun.

I had a very close friend in the convent, Sister Ruth.

She disappeared a year ago last February.

Two weeks later, the Mother Superior

called me and said sister Ruth had been found in Drago.

She was almost incoherent and babbling

on about finding the devil and the sound of bells

and-- and then the howling.

She was never able to tell us what happened.

She was very frail.

She refused to eat, and a month ago she died.

I left the convent and came here.

I had to find out what happened.

-Have you?

-All I know is, the sheriff here said

he found her wandering in the woods.

-And you think that Sister Ruth heard

the same sounds as I did, right?

-I don't know, but she used those same words.

-Janice, do you mind if I help you find out what happened?

MARIE (OFFSCREEN): Thanks for my present.

I love it.

It's beautiful.

I see you went back to the big, bad wolf again, huh?

-Hey, picked it out.

-I'm just kidding.

-I have something I gotta show you.

-What?

-I found this.

-I didn't imagine it, Richard.

-Honey, I practically searched the whole area on my knees.

And this is all I could find.

The light can play tricks on you, and you've got to admit,

this doesn't look like a dog's head.

-You think he's still alive, then?

-Let's hope so.

MALE SPEAKER (OFFSCREEN): Hi.

-You don't know what bit you, huh?

-No.

-Your ankle's starting to swell a little bit.

OK, is that too tight, Paula?

-No, that feels fine.

-OK.

-You a doctor?

-God no.

I did do a year in medical school, though.

I'm qualified for a bandage, but that's about it.

You guys aren't from around here, are you?

-No.

New York.

Driving and hiking through California.

-John's idea of a hike is a forced march.

-We came to see the bell tower in Drago.

-The bell tower?

-Yeah.

It's a replica of a 16th century bell tower from Europe,

and the bell is the original.

Quite a history behind it.

Evidently, the bell was rung to summons the townspeople,

and when they were all inside, the tower was burned down.

Apparently there were no survivors.

-Is that a true story?

-Yeah, well, I read it in an old "National Geographic."

You OK, honey?

I think we should be going now.

-Listen, my husband will be back soon.

Why don't you guys just stick around,

and we'll drive you back into town.

-Look, thanks for your help, but my Chevy

camper's parked close by.

-OK.

Make sure you see the doctor in Drago, though, OK?

-Will do.

-That could get infected.

-Thanks again.

-Listen, have you guys seen a little white poodle?

I lost him a couple of days ago.

I think he might be in the woods.

-No, afraid not.

But if we see him, we'll bring him to you.

-You OK, hon?

-No problem.

[DOG WHIMPER]

-Did you hear that?

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