The Cat and the Canary Page #3

Yeah?

What's this all about? I wouldn't know.

Better ask Fred.

Why blame it on me?

Two grown men,

it's too absurd.

Fred, I want to

talk to Charlie.

Oh?

I'll just be a minute.

Same old Casanova.

Well, I'll be in the

dining room, if you need me.

Now, Charlie,

once and for all...

Joyce, why

do you hate me?

I don't hate you,

Charlie, I...

You were in love

with me once.

No.

Yes, you were.

Darling, can't we...

We had this all out

a long time ago, Charlie.

Give me another

chance, Joyce.

I won't fail you this time,

I swear I won't.

You can forget that girl.

No, it wasn't just that,

it was...

We can't

thrash it out tonight.

Tomorrow, then.

Tomorrow is better.

Yes, tomorrow is

much better.

Here you are, Cicily.

Oh, thank you, Wally.

You know, I've always wanted to be

an actress and now, just think of it,

some of the same blood that flows

through my veins flows through yours.

Yeah, it's gruesome, isn't it?

Let's change the subject.

I may not see you people

in the morning,

I have a luncheon

engagement in New Orleans.

I have to get up early.

Early? Well, you certainly don't

expect to sleep in this terrible house.

Don't big, empty houses

scare you?

Not me, I used to be

in vaudeville.

Oh...

Here.

Oh, Wally, you give me

such a comfortable feeling.

First this old house

gave me the creeps.

But with you here,

I don't know what fear is.

That's right, nobody's afraid

of an old house except a coward.

Turn out the lights.

What is it?

I don't know.

He's coming

toward the house.

Oh, Cicily.

What are you doing?

It's the only way

to stop a scream.

Oh, is that so? With me, it's for sneezing.

With me,

it's for screaming.

Oh, I didn't...

I got it. Hold it.

Cicily!

She's all right.

She's okay.

We thought we heard

some shots.

We thought we did, too. Well,

hadn't we better investigate?

Say, maybe you're right.

You may be wrong, though.

Well, I want

to go, too.

No, you'd better stay here

with Cicily. Come on, Wally.

Oh, no. I'm awfully sorry.

I screamed...

What is it?

Could I talk to you

a moment, sir?

Well, come in.

I don't want to

alarm you folks, but...

But what?

I'm the head guard

over at Fairview.

Fairview?

The insane asylum?

Yes, ma'am. One of our patients

got away from us this afternoon.

That's all

we needed.

Well, anyway, he'll

feel right at home here.

Is he a dangerous

maniac?

Yes, ma'am, he's...

He's a killer.

Oh!

How did he escape?

I wish I knew.

We followed him into the

bayous, but then we lost him.

But you took a couple of shots

at something out in the garden.

I thought I saw him,

but the shadows fooled me.

What does the poor

fellow look like?

Say, don't waste any

sympathy on him, mister.

He'd just as soon rip you wide open as not.

Oh, please, please. There

are ladies are present.

Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.

We're still waiting to

hear what he looks like.

Oh. Well, he's about 40,

but strong as a tiger.

He has sharp teeth and long

fingers and fingernails like claws.

And when he's violent, he crawls

around on all fours like a...

Like an animal?

Yes, sir, like a cat.

What some guys won't do for a laugh.

Look!

Scat!

That's a good joke

on us, all right.

Yeah, I'll say.

That's better.

Well, I guess

I'll be moving on.

Maybe he isn't

even around here.

But if I were you,

I'd stay in the house

and be sure that all the outside

windows and doors are locked.

I agree with you, locked

and nailed. I'll handle that.

Won't we?

I'll be around

the neighborhood

and let you know

if we get the Cat.

The what?

Uh, the Cat. That's what

the other inmates call him,

but they're all crazy.

Well, good night.

Good night.

Listen, I don't think we better say

anything about this to Joyce or Cicily.

That's right, there's no

use in frightening them,

too.

That's a fatheaded

suggestion of yours.

If there's any danger,

they ought to know it.

Well, somebody ought

to go down and lock

the cellar doors

and windows, anyhow.

Yeah, well I'm going.

I'm... Don't rush me.

I'm going to ask you all

not to tell the girls.

Have I

your promise?

Good heavens, do you think I'm

the type that can't keep a secret?

It's understood, then?

Hey, what's going on?

What are you all

talking about?

Nothing.

Nothing.

Well, I'm going to bed.

Good night, all.

Good night.

If you're going to lock up the

cellar, you'd better do it now.

That's right.

Oh, that's right.

Is anything

the matter?

No, nothing's

the matter.

Except there's a maniac

loose in this house

and we'll all be

murdered in our beds.

That a girl. Hold it

right there. Stay there.

Well, where's

that cellar?

Oh, say, in case I don't come up in

about five minutes, better make it four,

or even three, you...

Is there a Brother Elk

in the house?

I'm not an Elk, but I

used to be a Girl Scout.

Oh, good, then you can

start a fire with sticks

in case our feet freeze.

Come on.

Well, everything's fine.

Well, don't you people

want anything more to eat?

Uh-uh.

What's going on?

Oh!

Why...

You go ahead. I'll be with you in a minute.

Listen, Joyce...

Uh-huh?

You know how it is in a play, when

just before the first act is over

somebody always comes

to the beautiful heroine

and tells her that she's in great

danger, and sometimes she is?

What are you

talking about?

Yeah, I know it sounds

kind of silly, but...

Keep your eyes

open, baby.

Thanks.

Well...

Say, why don't you go to the

library? It's much nicer in there.

The library, nicer?

What are you...

Well... Well,

there's a lamp there.

It hasn't got the jitters

like these lights.

Can't do more

than explode.

Hey! I'm scared.

Aren't you coming?

Did you find out? Can

we go through that way?

Uh-huh.

Oh, well...

Well, I'll be

seeing you, I hope.

This is the door

all right, but it won't open.

The key, honey.

One turn...

Oh.

Here's a switch.

Won't switch.

You want to go first?

Yeah! No, no.

Certainly not. Ladies always go first.

Oh.

Go ahead.

Thanks.

I think it was awful funny

what Miss Lu said

about the spirits

being all around you.

What's funny about it?

Well, I mean, I'm psychic,

too. I was in a trance once.

I know, I know. When

are you coming out of it?

Just kidding.

It's awful spooky

down here.

Do you believe

in reincarnation?

Huh?

You know, that dead people come back?

You mean like

the Republicans?

Shh, listen.

What's the matter?

That noise.

Well, what kind

of a noise?

It sounds like

wheels going around.

Shh. Watch that step.

Watch that...

Hey!

Hold my nose.

I'm screaming!

I can't.

Why can't you?

It's got me. It's got

my hands. It's got me.

What?

It's got me. I...

Cheese!

You're not hurt?

No, this one here.

Look, look.

Hurry, hurry.

Oh.

My knee.

Oh, you're not hurt. Come

on. We've got work to do.

That window's barred.

I like that.

I hear it now.

What? That noise you just heard.

It's in there.

Oh, that's it.

A home electric plant.

They're nothing but trouble.

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