The Haunted Palace Page #3

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You cannot keep me out.

My will is too strong.

Too strong for you.

Too strong for you!

- Why are you spying on me?

- I heard voices.

Tomorrow you must leave.

Is that understood?

- Yes.

- Now go to your bed.

- You lost him?

- For a time.

He has a strong will,

stronger than we thought.

But you did well.

He has the Curwen strain.

Hester.

Where are you?

Is that you?

Mrs. Ward.

I heard sounds.

Thought we had prowlers.

- It was his wife.

- Where is she now?

- In her room.

- Did you lock it?

Yes.

Stupid woman. She doesn't know

what it is to love.

It has been too long.

No, we will continue trying.

Yes, as you say.

We'll continue trying.

- Help me upstairs quickly.

- Yes.

Quickly.

I've been so afraid.

What is it? What's happened?

Tell me.

I don't know. It's this house.

I think I must be

going out of my mind.

Where have I been tonight?

Don't you remember?

No. I'm so confused.

We've got to get out of here

before it's too late.

Yes, dear.

Tomorrow morning.

Yes, we will.

- Leaving so soon?

- That's right. Any objections?

Certainly not, sir,

but I can make no plans...

until I know what you want to do

with the palace.

- We're selling it.

- I see.

Sir, could you issue a check

for the week's expenses?

- All right. How much?

- I'll get the receipts.

No, that won't be necessary.

How much? We're in a hurry.

It'll only take a moment, sir.

You go out to the coach.

I'll join you in a minute.

Mrs. Ward.

Doctor, you almost missed us.

We were just leaving.

Very wise decision, particularly

under the circumstances.

What do you mean?

Did something happen?

I'm afraid so.

In fact, I was

on my way to warn you...

but it doesn't matter now.

Doctor, please,

I'd like to know.

There was a rather ugly

occurrence last night.

- In Arkham?

- In the cemetery.

A grave was dug up

and a body stolen.

Nobody knows who did it,

but the people...

as you might well imagine,

are blaming it on your husband.

Why?

The grave that was opened was

that of Hester Tillinghast...

Joseph Curwen's mistress.

And they think Charles...

What's wrong with those people?

They're stupid to the marrow

of their bones.

You know who robbed that grave,

don't you, doctor?

- No.

- They did.

They?

Weeden and his dirty

little friends.

- Why would they do that?

- Why? Isn't it obvious?

To frighten me.

To drive me away from my home.

It's a possibility...

But you don't think I did it,

do you, doctor?

No, but it's a good thing

you're leaving, all the same.

But I'm not leaving.

Charles, you promised.

You can go back

to that village, doctor.

You can go back

and tell those people...

that Charles Dexter Ward

has decided to stay.

How long has he been like this?

It started the first night...

just for a little while,

and then he was himself again.

But it kept happening.

What kept happening?

This... change.

I'm so afraid.

I've never seen him like this.

Mrs. Ward, I want you to tell me

exactly what has happened...

since your arrival in Arkham.

- I have him now.

- Are you sure?

Charles Dexter Ward is dead.

- Then we can begin our work.

- Not quite yet.

There are a few little things

I must do first.

Can't you forget what happened?

Forget?

Forget that my flesh

was burned from my bones...

while I was yet alive? No.

No, this village will pay

for its crime, just as I vowed.

- But the work.

- The work?

There can be no work

without my knowledge.

We've waited 110 years.

We can wait a bit longer.

I'm not an alienist...

but there can be little doubt

as to what's happening.

Your husband is reacting

to the legend of his ancestor.

The attitude of the village,

the remarkable resemblance...

between him and the figure

in the portrait...

the atmosphere of the castle

are all working together...

to cause this aberration.

Then I've got to

find a way to help him.

You're not going back in there?

Yes. What else can I do?

Leave him?

I would advise it.

But, then, of course, you can't.

No.

Promise me one thing...

that you'll contact me

if things get out of hand.

Yes, I will, doctor.

Thank you.

Why have you returned?

Because you need me.

Perhaps you're right.

Come here where I can see you.

Do you love me?

Yes.

Then kiss me.

Why do you hesitate?

Surely a husband

has certain rights.

I demand that you kiss me!

What delights

we'll share, we two!

What tender, intimate delights!

Maybe it was a leprechaun.

It's nothing to laugh at, Bruno.

I say, who but the devil

would do such a thing?

He couldn't have

lifted it alone.

Sure not, but remember

the two that worked with him.

They was never caught.

Aye, or maybe it was Dr. Willet

gave them a hand.

No. Willet's a fool, all right,

but he's one of us.

Remember... it was his

great-great-grandfather...

who helped with the burning.

And yours that held the torch.

And it was yours

that did the burning...

and don't be forgetting that!

Forget it? I'm proud of it!

In fact, I've been thinking

along the same lines myself.

I'll be no part of murdering!

Who said murdering?

Me? Did I say murdering?

What are you talking about?

Self-protection.

That's what I'm talking about!

A man threatens your life

and you have...

the means to stop him,

what do you do?

He's done no threatening.

Not yet, but he will!

First this unholy business

at the cemetery.

Next, our women will start

wandering out late at night...

eyes all glassy, bellies filled

with God knows what.

Then you'll see!

I say this to you, all of you.

If we do nothing but sit around

and talk about it...

then we deserve whatever we get!

Now, good night to you!

Get away!

Get away, you damned thing!

Get away!

The Lord giveth,

and the Lord taketh away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

In this veil of tears...

We suffer much and sin mightily.

Yet we take solace

in the promise...

of thy eternal forgiveness.

Amen.

Have you not gorged

yourself enough on revenge?

You do not know the extent

of my appetite.

I will not have

my fill of revenge...

until this village

is a graveyard...

until they have felt,

as I did...

the kiss of fire

on their soft, bare flesh.

All of them.

Have patience, my friends.

Surely after all these years...

I'm entitled to a few...

small amusements.

What do you want?

What do I want?

Merely to exercise

my husbandly prerogative.

Is there anything

so strange about that?

- Please...

- "Please"?

Please what, my dear?

I know.

You're upset because

I've neglected you.

That's it, isn't it?

I've been very busy,

but I'm back now.

We have the whole night

before us!

Stop it! No!

Stop! No!

You fool!

You stupid, weak little fool!

It is useless.

No... I will try again!

Doctor! Thank God you've come!

- Why? What's happened?

- I don't know.

I don't know.

Something terrible!

- Where is he?

- I...

Look, Mrs. Ward,

you must calm yourself.

Then you must tell me

everything, sparing no detail.

Your life and your husband's

may depend upon it.

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