The Black Castle Page #4

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Wait. I I shall be

leaving here very soon.

Oh.

[Chuckles]

I suppose you'll be glad

to get back to England...

and to forget this dreary place.

I shall be glad to get home, yes,

but I shall never forget you, Elga.

Please don't say any more.

There's so many things

I want to tell you.

I don't want to hear them.

Has he ever told you

how beautiful you are?

Please.

Has he ever taken you in his arms

Oh, don't.

and kissed you... like this?

[Knocking]

You shouldn't have come back.

I took this from you.

My pendant.

I don't understand. Why?

I had to have it.

You stole it.

While you were kissing me, you

Listen to me, please.

When I held you in my arms, I realized

how very dear you've become to me.

I knew then

I haven't anymore pendants, Mr. Beckett.

Elga!

I should have known

you were like all the rest of them.

Nothing but evil

ever comes to this castle, nothing.

Elga, please.

What were you looking for

in my husband's room?

Why did you want my pendant?

Why did you come here?

I can't tell you.

Get out.

All right, then. I'll tell you.

Your husband is a murderer.

Some years ago

he controlled a native tribe in Africa.

He held power over them

by posing as a white god,

his aim to gain control...

of a fabulously rich empire.

I was in Africa at the time

on an expedition

for the Crown.

Then you've met before?

No. Our forces met

in a brief battle,

and he was wounded

by one of my men.

His eye!

The wound proved

to the natives that he was

a mortal, not a god.

So they rose up against him

and drove him out of

their country.

With me were

my two closest friends.

Your husband swore

that he would get

revenge on us.

I'm convinced now

that he killed them.

But what has my pendant

to do with that?

The natives gave each of us

one of these as a token

of appreciation.

We swore that we would

never part with them.

Only murder

could have placed this

in the count's hands.

Then you're in danger too.

No. He doesn't know

who I am.

I'm safe enough.

What are you going to do now?

I needed this pendant as proof

that my friends had been here.

I'm going to

take it to the emperor.

He'll see that justice is done.

I'll be leaving

in the morning.

ThenThen I'll never

see you again.

I'll be back. I promise you.

I'll be back.

[Guests Chattering In Distance]

Please be careful.

[Hinge Creaking]

[Creaking]

[Creaking]

# Steal a kiss

from a pretty miss #

# She'll pretend

that she's unwilling #

# Modesty##

[Laughing]

Well, what are you

gaping at?

We don't need a doctor,

do we, Therese?

Does anybody here

need a doctor?

[Laughing]

Go away. Go away.

Pour yourself

back in the bottle.

Excuse me, sir,

but I come from

Count Stieken.

He wishes to see you.

Stieken.

Good old Stieken.

I wonder how Stieken

would look in a bottle.

He He says he must

speak to you alone.

It is most urgent.

Where is he?

In the trophy room.

[Woman Giggles]

[Man Laughs]

Well, Stieken?

Mmm.

Karl, get him out!

We must talk alone.

Meissen.

Well?

Hmm. I shouldn't have

had another drink.

Why, you drunken fool!

What have you learned?

Enough, Karl. Enough.

He told her

He told her

He told her what?

What did he say?

Beckett.

Beckett is

[Gags]

Get Meissen.

Meissen!

Meissen, come back here.

Well, what's wrong

with him?

He's dead.

Dead?

Are you sure?

Why, just a minute ago

Herr Count,

it must have been

his heart

Clumsy ox!

[Bottle Shatters]

I'm sorry.

Terribly sorry.

If you would like

some wine, I

Don't bother.

Get out!

He was watching them.

He learned something.

Yes. And now you'll

never know what it was.

I think I will.

Yes. I'm quite sure I will.

- Karl.

- I didn't mean

to startle you, my dear.

What do you want?

A few words

with my wife.

That isn't too much

to ask, is it?

But it's late, Karl,

and I'm tired.

I daresay you have

reason to be.

Deception

is a strenuous pastime.

I don't know

what you're talking about.

Your little interlude

with our English guest...

was carefully

reported to me

by Stieken.

- Oh, no.

- Oh, yes, my dear.

I make it a point

to guard my possessions

very carefully.

You are one of them.

It's really too bad

things have to

turn out this way.

I was beginning to like

Mr. Beckett.

Then you know.

Know what?

That you love him?

Is that what Stieken told you?

Is there more?

No.

No, that's all.

Yes, it's true that I love him,

and there's nothing

you can do to change it.

Am I so repulsive to you, Elga?

I despise you.

I could never let you

touch me.

You forced me

into this marriage

like you force everything.

I could never love you.

Like you love the Englishman.

Yes!

Gargon!

I'm a generous man

in every respect but one, Elga.

The first Countess von Bruno

found that out too late.

The countess

is in your care.

Murderer.

You murderer!

[Elga Screams]

You seem to be enjoying

a healthy appetite this morning.

Why not?

What do you think

ofTherese?

You're already

making plans.

Death is inevitable.

Why not accept it?

Could anyone

have been closer to me

than my first wife?

Yet, when she died

Uh, pass the sausage.

Well?

Everything has been

taken care of.

You sent the body.

I followed your instructions

to the letter.

Good. Sit down.

Speaking of death, Doctor,

surely there must be

some explanation...

for a man of Stieken's constitution

dying so suddenly.

There is.

If you were a medical man

and examined the body,

I'm sure you would have found

the explanation.

Medical man.

[Both Chuckling]

Dressed for traveling,

Mr. Beckett?

Don't get up, Count.

I'm afraid I have to leave.

There are some pressing business matters

in London that need my attention.

Oh, I see.

I thought you were going

to be with us much longer,

Mr. Beckett. Didn't you, Karl?

Oh, I don't know. I can understand

how things suddenly come up

to change one's plans. Isn't that so?

- Exactly.

- I'm disappointed

that you're not staying.

But perhaps some other time.

YouYou mean to say

you're going to let him

run off this way?

Well, I can't force my guests

to enjoy my hospitality,

can I, Mr. Beckett?

I, uh, I want to thank you

for everything.

Oh, don't mention it.

Call Fender.

Oh, about the leopard pelt.

Shall I send it to you?

You keep it, with my compliments.

I would have liked to say

good-bye to the countess, but

Well, naturally.

Uh, I'll be happy to convey

your message to her.

One of the last things

she said to me last night

was that she admired you greatly.

She's a very charming woman.

You're a lucky man.

Oh, Fender, you'll drive

Mr. Beckett to the border.

Help with his things.

Well, I, uh,

hope my future hunts

are as successful

as this one was.

Good-bye.

Good-bye.

You let him go?

Shh.

[Door Closes]

You're a fool, Ernst.

Should I have insisted

that he stay around to ask

embarrassing questions?

I would say his departure

was most opportune.

What do you say, Doctor?

Oh, yes, Herr Count.

Most opportune...

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