The Black Castle Page #5

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under the circumstances.

I hadn't thought of that.

But I can't see why he should

want to leave her in such a hurry.

He left because

he's a gentleman with

a gentleman's sense of honor.

He probably didn't want

to get himself involved.

Now, if it were you

[Both Laughing]

Come. Help me with

my accounts. The tenants

pay their taxes tomorrow.

That place fair gave me

the creeps, sir.

I'm certainly glad

you've finished your business there.

Finished?

I'm not so sure that I have.

I know.

You're thinking

of that poor girl.

Yes. I'm thinking of her.

[Hinges Creaking]

Shall I fill it again, sir?

Yes, Romley.

You may.

Doctor Meissen!

Where is Fender?

He went to bed. Why?

Good. I must talk to you...

alone.

Well, now, Doctor.

What's all the mystery about?

I was afraid you

might have gone already.

I came as quickly as I could.

Can't I get you

something to drink?

You must return

to the castle at once.

Oh? They miss me so soon?

Oh, believe me.

This is no joking matter.

The countess's life

is in great danger.

I'm sorry to hear that.

However, the count

seems quite capable

of protecting her.

Protecting her?

He's the one who will kill her

just as he killed his first wife.

Oh! So he killed his first wife?

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

That's too bad.

But, uh, I'm afraid

I'm on my way home

to England.

Do you think

I'm trying to trick you?

That's the first sensible

thing you've said.

Now, if you'll excuse me

I don't know what to do.

I'd hoped that

[Sighs]

Look, Doctor.

If what you're telling me is the truth,

why do you come to me?

Because you're the only one

who could help her.

You were with her last night.

I heard you.

You'll have to do better

than that, Meissen.

Would... murder convince you?

Whose? Mine?

You know Count Stieken

died last night?

Yes. I heard about it.

His heart.

His heart, eh?

I poisoned him

to keep him from telling

what he knew about you.

He knew nothing about me.

You're wrong.

He knew everything

about you...

Sir Ronald Burton.

Now will you trust me?

Believe me, the countess

needs your help!

What can I do?

I don't know.

It may be too late already.

But you must find

some way to get her away.

I'll need an excuse

for returning.

Romley!

Can you get into my room

at the castle?

Yes. Uh

I think I can.

Right. Romley, fetch me

those new dueling pistols

and give them to the doctor.

You leave right away.

Go and wake up Fender.

Tell him we're returning

to the castle.

We're what, sir?

We're going back.

Any objections?

Oh, no, sir. Very good, sir.

I wouldn't go quite as far

as that, Romley.

[Pig Squealing]

Franz Graber.

Cloth merchant.

Graber, Franz.

One hundred gulden.

Any complaints?

Oh, no, Herr Count.

It's very just.

Well, Krantz.

How's your business?

Oh, I manage.

Two hundred gulden.

I think you will

find that correct.

Uh, just a minute.

I passed your English guest

on the highway yesterday.

So?

I didn't think

I would see him again.

When he was at the inn,

he asked me some questions

about two friends of his.

Who?

Sterling and Brown.

Get out.

Get out, all of you.

Come back tomorrow.

[Bangs]

So his departure

was not so opportune.

You let him go.

You've only yourself to blame.

I know. I know.

Call it intuition

and call it what you will.

I disliked him from the start.

I'd give anything

to come face-to-face

with that scoundrel.

He'd never leave

this castle alive.

Come here.

Look.

What does it mean?

Why did he come back?

[Von Bruno]

Obviously,

tojoin his friends

Sterling and Brown.

[Footsteps Approaching]

Well, Mr. Beckett.

What a pleasant surprise.

You changed your mind

about leaving.

Not exactly, Count.

I'm terribly sorry

to break in on you this way,

but, uh, as a matter of fact,

I discovered I'd left

my dueling pistols behind.

I prized your gift very highly.

I would have sent them,

had you written.

Yes, I know, but, uh,

one can never tell these days

when they may come in handy.

Believe me, I don't want you

to get the impression that

I didn't want you to come back.

It's a real pleasure

to see you.

Isn't it, Ernst?

Why, just before

you returned,

Ernst was saying

Uh, what did you say,

Ernst?

It wasn't important.

Nevertheless, now that

you're here, I'm going to

insist that you stay.

l I really shouldn't

Oh, no apologies

are necessary.

I understand perfectly.

Come on. Let's go up

and find your pistols.

Are you sure

you left them here?

Positive.

Where else could they be?

Fender.

Yes, sir, Count?

It was your duty

to put this room in order.

Didn't you see

Mr. Beckett's dueling pistols?

No, Herr Count.

Where are they?

Thief, where are they?

I didn't take them.

I swear.

Count von Bruno,

here they are.

It was very careless of me.

I should have remembered.

I'm sorry, Fender.

You must have

overlooked them.

So he could steal them later.

Get out.

I'm sorry you were

inconvenienced, Beckett.

I know what it means

to lose something

of value.

Well, there are more

pleasant things

to talk about.

Not that way, Beckett.

I'm sure you'll

want to see the countess

now that you've returned.

What's the matter, Fender?

You're acting very strangely.

Your master is in trouble.

Then I must go to him.

Where is he?

The count has taken him to the dungeon.

I'm afraid there's nothing you can do.

Well, there must be something.

Can you take me there?

Come with me.

Didn't I understand you to say

we were going to see

the countess?

Of course, Beckett.

You seem very anxious,

almost like a young lover

on the way to his sweetheart.

[Metal Clangs]

Would it be more appropriate

to say like a lamb

being led to the slaughter?

You have a point there.

Okay, von Bruno.

Let's stop playing games.

I assure you I'm not

in a playful mood.

Neither am I.

Where's Elga?

Elga? How intimate

you've become with my wife!

Where is she?

What have you done

with her? Elga!

Elga!

Let him go.

Elga, are you all right?

Oh!

What's he done to you?

You shouldn't have come back.

Nothing would have

kept me away.

Oh!

What a touching scene,

Sir Ronald.

But it was inevitable,

wasn't it?

You had so many reasons

for returning.

Oh, you'll have to be

a lot more clever

than that.

What do you intend doing

with us?

I think you know the answer.

I can expect the worst

from you.

Then you won't be disappointed!

No neither will I.

You know, Burton,

I must begrudgingly give you

a certain amount of credit.

You carried off your deception

in a masterly fashion.

But fortunately, there's

such a thing as justice.

What do you know of justice?

For five years,

I lived in a nightmare

of hate,

reliving the agony I suffered

because of this!

I found only one relief

for that agony:

the hope that someday,

somehow, I'd find you!

Sterling and Brown came first.

I overlooked the possibility

that you might search for them.

Again, I underestimated you.

And I

[Laughing]

I never dreamed you'd come

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