The Haunted Palace Page #4

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Yes, doctor.

We were up in the bedroom

a short time ago.

And then, all of a sudden, he...

Doctor, you've got to help me

get him out of here!

This place is killing him!

Joseph Curwen... he's killing him!

Look at him.

That filthy, horrible

old man! I hate him!

Mrs. Ward!

I'm sorry, doctor.

It was a stupid thing to do.

Yes, it was.

How are you, doctor?

Excellent, thank you.

Glad to hear it.

This is a pleasant surprise.

- What brings you here?

- Nothing in particular.

- Just looking in?

- That's right. Do you mind?

Mind? No. On the contrary.

I'm delighted...

and so is my wife.

Aren't you, my dear?

Here. A little glass of wine

will make you feel better.

I don't want any.

The doctor and I are going to

have a little chat.

So you will just stay

here and rest, eh?

There you are. Come, doctor.

- She sent for you, of course.

- No, as I was...

There's no need to lie, doctor.

In a way, I'm glad. I've been

terribly upset about her.

This house has

a strange effect on her.

How do you mean?

You saw how she acted

a moment ago.

That sort of thing.

Fits of depression,

anger, hallucinations.

I hoped it would pass,

but she gets worse every day.

I see.

I suppose she told you

how... I've begun to change?

Yes.

Part of the pattern.

I scarcely recognize her

anymore, doctor. My own wife.

What do you want me to do?

Take her back to Boston.

Get her out of this house.

Why don't you?

She wouldn't permit it.

She fears me.

Can't you understand?

Yes, I think I can.

- Then you will help?

- I shall try.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

But remember... discretion.

She mustn't guess

that you know the truth.

My dear, I have

a surprise for you.

You won't have to stay

in this place any longer.

The good doctor is

going to take care of you.

Dr. Willet!

Yes, it's all arranged.

He will see you to Boston.

- Isn't that right?

- Yes.

Doctor, you don't understand!

Come along, Mrs. Ward.

No! I won't go!

Please, Mrs. Ward.

All right.

You needn't bother to pack.

I'll send your things along.

Good-bye, doctor.

Good-bye, my dear.

We'll be together again soon.

I promise.

- What of his woman?

- We're rid of her.

- Did you...

- No, it was not necessary.

I convinced

the good Dr. Willet...

that she had begun

to lose her mind...

to imagine strange things...

even that her own husband

had turned against her.

They'll lock her away.

But if Dr. Willet should return?

He will learn

that Charles Dexter Ward...

has retired

to his New England estate.

Do you know of any law

prohibiting a man...

from residing

on his own property?

Now, let us begin again.

You can see what happened

to poor Gideon.

What are we going to

do about it?

Let's do something!

Let's get him!

What's happened?

Don't you really know

what happened, Mrs. Curwen?

My name is Ward.

No, I don't know.

- We came to see Gideon.

- Then come and see.

There's Gideon...

and each and every one of us...

unless we do something about it.

Just a minute. Do you know

how this happened?

It didn't just happen, doctor.

It was caused to happen.

By whom?

Do you know who did it?

- Aye, and so do you.

- Who?

The man who swore to do it.

The man you call

Charles Dexter Ward.

My husband would

never do such a thing!

She's lying!

They're all in this!

Mrs. Ward, you better

come along with me.

- Where are we going?

- Back to the palace.

We've got to get him away from

there before these people...

decide to take matters

into their own hands.

Whoa!

Doctor, I'm going with you!

Don't be foolish!

Wait here until I come back!

- I'm going with you!

- Then we must hurry!

- Lucien, you got the ropes?

- Here!

- Elijah?

- Aye!

All right, then!

Let's be about it!

Mrs. Ward!

- Did you find him?

- No.

- What about Simon?

- Who?

- The caretaker.

- I didn't see anyone.

I know Charles is here!

Is there any more

to the place than we've seen?

I don't know.

Wait a minute.

When you tried

to destroy the picture...

suddenly he was in the room.

Did you see him come in?

- No.

- Neither did I.

Charles Dexter Ward!

Are you down here?

Don't!

It's only a book.

It's much more than a book.

My God!

- What did you see?

- What a pleasant surprise.

Now that you've seen

all of the palace...

Dr. Willet, what do you

think of it?

It's quite old, you know...

older than you might imagine.

Torquemada spent many a happy

hour here a few centuries ago.

- It was old then.

- Mr. Ward...

I'll admit the furnishings do

leave something to be desired...

but it has a lived-in quality,

don't you think?

After all, home

is where the heart is.

Isn't that so, my dear?

Listen to me!

I'd be happy to, doctor,

but my friends grow impatient.

Please forgive me.

May I present

Miss Hester Tillinghast...

Mr. Simon Orne, and Mr. Jabez

Hutchinson I believe you know.

They are my associates.

You see, we began a project

a few years ago...

but, unfortunately,

it was interrupted...

and we're most anxious

to take it up again.

What sort of a project?

The most important

ever attempted of humans...

more important

than you can ever imagine...

and therefore, I fear,

beyond your understanding.

As a matter of fact...

...we don't

fully understand ourselves.

We obey. That is all.

We obey.

Come!

Come, I said!

No! Stop!

What are you doing to her?

Honoring her, Dr. Willet.

Honoring her.

Maybe we'll just smoke him out!

Poor Ann!

You traitor!

Dr. Willet,

get her away from here!

Get her away from here,

Dr. Willet!

Take her away!

Get her away from here!

- Quickly! Quickly!

- What about Charles?

I'll come back for him!

They're finished.

Are you all right?

Yes... thanks to you

and to my wife.

I don't know

how I can ever repay you...

for what you've done,

Dr. Willet...

but I intend to try.

Are you sure you're all right?

Perfectly sure, my dear.

Perfectly sure.

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