The Curse of the Cat People Page #3

The sun is not kind.

God should use a rose-amber spot.

Come along.

Here we go.

Sit down, my child.

I've been watching you.

You couldn't see me,

but I could see you.

It was like peeking

through the slit in the curtain...

...before the play began.

You'd be a very good audience.

I can see that.

If you were the lady

who gave me a ring...

...my mother says

I have to give it back to you.

Return it to me? Indeed you may not.

I gave it to you as a present.

But my mother says

I mustn't accept gifts from strangers.

Stranger? Julia Farren a stranger?

Why, I've played every theater

from Boston to San Francisco.

I've played London, Paris.

Those days.

Those beautiful, shining, golden days.

But I only came to give back the ring.

The ring? We'll have

no more nonsense about the ring.

Let's have some tea, shall we?

Tea will be good...

...strong and red now,

the way I like it.

She's always spying on me.

She creeps into the room.

- She lives here.

- Who is she?

That woman is an impostor.

She's a liar and a cheat.

- How do you like your tea?

- Sometimes I get a spoonful...

...of tea in a cup of hot milk.

Good.

It's almost as if

there were a curse on us.

I wouldn't care if it were on me,

but it seems to be directed against Amy.

I sometimes think Irena

haunts this house.

Why, Edward...

...I thought you'd gone with Amy.

No, she went to some old house

she was talking about yesterday.

That's the Farren house.

Is that where she got the ring?

She shouldn't be up there.

- But I told her to go with you.

- She said something about that...

...but she didn't tell me it was

the Farren house. I'll go right over.

Child, have you ever seen a play?

- I like stories.

- Then I'll tell you a story.

A lovely story.

Do you know the story of Rapunzel?

My mommy read it to me.

Do you know the story

of The Headless Horseman?

You live right here in Tarrytown...

...and don't know the legend

of Sleepy Hollow?

Then you must hear it.

I shall tell it to you.

There. Now, you sit there.

Now, we'll pretend this is the stage.

The Headless Horseman.

Why hasn't he got a head?

It was shot off long ago

in the great battles that were fought here.

With the British on one side

and the Americans on the other.

There's a knocking at the south entry.

Knock, knock. Never a quiet.

Wake Duncan with thy knocking.

Is my little miss here?

A little girl with hair

about the color of yours, ma'am?

About time for you to come home, Amy.

But Mrs. Farren just started

to tell me a story. Please.

Let the child stay.

Now, I don't know, Amy.

He'll let me stay, Mrs. Farren.

He'll let me stay.

- Good.

- Now, Amy, I didn't say.

On the dark nights...

...on the stormy nights,

you can hear him.

He passes like the wind...

...and the flapping

and fluttering of his great cloak...

...beating like gaunt wings.

And the thunder

of his horse's hooves...

...is loud and loud...

...and louder.

At the midnight hour...

...down the road

that leads to Sleepy Hollow...

...across the bridge, he goes galloping...

...galloping, galloping.

Always searching, always seeking.

And if you stand

on the bridge at the wrong hour...

...the hour when he rides by...

...his great cloak sweeps around you.

He swings you to his saddlebow.

And then forever you must ride.

And always his cold arms around you...

...clasping you into the cavity

of his bony chest.

And then, forever you must ride...

...and ride and ride...

...with the Headless Horseman.

Come along now.

I've had a nice time,

but I have to go home now. Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Thank you.

Little miss, don't you

never come here alone.

You gave me a fright, you did.

But she's such a nice lady.

But I don't want you

coming here alone.

You get me to go with you

when you want to come here.

You promise?

You be sure of your promise.

A liar, an impostor.

Your own daughter.

You called me that.

Yet you're sweet and kind

to the little girl. A stranger.

Look at me. I'm your daughter.

My daughter, Barbara,

died when she was 6.

That was long ago.

You're only the woman

who takes care of me.

Look at me.

You are an impostor.

He passes like the wind.

Riding, riding, riding, riding.

His cold arms around you.

Loud and louder and louder.

Loud and louder.

- Listen.

- What is it, Alice?

I thought I heard Amy calling.

I guess not.

My friend.

I'm frightened.

My friend.

I'm glad you came.

My friend.

Sing me that song again.

My friend.

He's a million miles away.

Gathering a few aces, I hope. Ollie.

- What?

- It's your play.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I was somewhere else.

- Good morning, Mommy.

- Good morning, darling.

You ready for breakfast?

I had my breakfast

while you were still asleep.

I haven't had mine.

- Well, you know where it is.

- You see the way I'm treated?

You're the only one

who has any pull around here.

Mommy, who's this?

- Amy, where did you get this?

- Right in here.

- Isn't she pretty?

- She was very pretty.

- What's her name?

- Irena.

Irena.

Darling, look, the sun's shining.

Why don't you run out and play.

All right, Mommy.

- Ollie.

- Yeah.

Don't you think

we ought to get rid of this?

- Where did you get it?

- Amy found it in that drawer.

You better go through the whole bunch.

There may be others of Irena in there.

I hope we never have

to tell Amy about her.

There's no need to that I can see.

Irena.

Irena.

Who are you?

You called me by my name.

Irena. But who are you?

I'm your friend.

I've wanted a friend.

I've wanted a friend too.

I've been lonely.

But where do you come from?

You wouldn't understand.

I come from great darkness...

...and deep peace.

But where is that?

I cannot tell you.

Will you be my friend for always?

For as long as you'll let me.

I shall want you for always.

For always, then.

But you must promise

never to tell anyone about me.

Not even Daddy or Mommy?

No.

This must be a friendship

that only we shall have.

You and I.

Amy and her friend.

Oh, I like the sound of that.

Amy and her friend.

Amy and her friend.

One...

...is like a tall princess.

- A princess.

- Of course.

And two is the prince

who kneels before her on one knee.

Yes. Yes.

- The prince.

- That's right.

- This is more fun than just numbers.

- Of course.

There's an oak leaf and a maple.

That one's an elm.

Throw seaweeds into the flames...

...and the fire turns blue.

I don't think that's much fun.

Let's play house instead.

You be the friend

who comes to see me.

I'll show you my children.

Your children?

My dolls.

- We can pretend.

- All right, Amy.

Button your sweater, darling.

It's turning cold.

Yes. Winter's coming.

I don't like the winter.

Oh, but winter's fun.

There's the wind...

...and the snow.

You will like the warm fire

upon the hearth...

...and the long, long nights.

All my children are taking their naps.

We must be very quiet.

This is Lottie.

She's very good.

This is Mary Ann.

She's good sometimes.

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