The House Of The Seven Gables Page #2

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sense of justice that .. I love you.

I can only .. hope to prove worthy

of such love, Hepzibah.

You have my darling .. and now

I know .. the house must be sold.

It shall be sold .. we'll live

in New York, Hepzibah.

People there have vitality.

They look ahead, not backwards.

You know, they're constructing buildings

five stories tall! Scraping the sky!

Men reaching towards the heavens

instead of digging into dusty archives.

We'll leave the dirges behind us.

There's music in those people Hepzibah.

Laughing, struggling, working

people. That's living music!

You're right, Clifford ..

It's already inside you.

Treasure hunt?

Yes. Yes, you could

call it that if you like.

So, this is the reason for your

pious defense of your ancestors.

Not the legend of their nobility, but

the fable of their hidden wealth.

This is no fable, you fool.

One million acres of the

State of Maine .. Ours.

I've dug into ancient

archives in Boston.

Aside from this map, I've actually seen

documents referring to the land grant.

Somewhere, hidden in these

rotting walls as you call them ..

Along with other papers, is a

deed to Colonel Jaffrey Pyncheon.

Signed by King Charles the Second.

If you find them, what

value would they be?

That was a 180 years ago Jaffrey. The

city is there now, thousands of people.

Will you issue orders of eviction?

But Clifford, don't you see?

With the original deed in our possession

the government must compensate us.

It will mean millions for

us Clifford .. Millions!

Help me .. work with me.

We'll turn the house down

board-by-board until we find it.

There's nothing to find, you fool.

There are no hidden staircases,

no secret rooms.

Those were fables grandmother invented,

on rainy afternoons for our amusement.

You might as well believe there's a half

million in gold hidden with the deed.

She used to speak about that too.

It has yet to be proven otherwise.

And Maule's curse?

Perhaps you believe that

old Matthew Maule's ghost ..

Still hovers over the Pyncheons,

wreaking vengeance?

It has yet to be proven otherwise.

Well .. goodnight.

And .. don't let the witches get you.

Whoa .. whoa boy .. easy there ..

Morning Mr Fuller.

Morning Miss Hepzibah.

A new horse Mr Fuller?

Yes, a beauty isn't he.

Two years old he is, and full of the

old Ned. Faster than lightning.

Mr Fuller?

From tomorrow, hold our mail at the Post

Office until we send a forward address.

So you're finally going to sell?

Yes, Mr Fuller. Today. It's settled.

Well, well .. I heard a heap

of conversation, but ..

And it's all settled?

Well .. get on Ginger!

So, they're finally

selling Seven Gables?

Yes, all settled.

"Settled" is it? Well .. well .. well.

They're moving out tomorrow.

Don't believe it.

They've been talking

that way for a year.

If Mr Fullers says it's all settled

Abigail, I guess it's all settled.

I wonder who's fool enough to buy it?

I say, that Gerald Pyncheon has no

right to sell that accursed house ..

To an unsuspecting stranger.

He can't help himself.

It's that young Clifford's doing.

He's a wild one, I tell you.

The old man is afraid of the boy.

I remember Clifford saying to him,

right in the square:

"I'll see you dead afore you're chained

to the poverty of your tradition."

Nothing but bad blood,

dressed up in fancy words.

Mr Fuller, have you heard the news?

I hear lots of news Mrs Reynolds.

It's settled, finally settled. The

Pyncheons are selling Seven Gables.

Well ..

Time was when the United States mail

was the fastest thing round these parts.

Get on Ginger ..

Clifford, I've been looking

all over for you.

You packed everything you need, darling?

Hours ago.

We can't leave today Clifford.

Why not?

It's impossible. Arrangements of

all kinds are still to be made.

Where's that lawyer?

Dearest Clifford, you know he isn't

expected until late this afternoon.

Now, will you please come

in and eat something.

Your father and brother

have almost finished.

No thank you.

Aren't you hungry?

I'm starved.

But I prize my appetite much to have it

ruined by Jaffrey's face over the table.

Darling, don't talk like that.

Why not? Hepzibah ..

Do you know why Jaffrey is so

anxious to keep the house?

Fondness of memories.

No, fondness of gold.

He believes in all the witch's tales

about hidden treasure and Maule's curse.

Even about the old well.

Still .. the water is

brackish .. undrinkable.

Oh that's undoubtedly the ancient

sewage system seeping into it.

And yet ..

Yet what, darling?

I recall my great uncle.

He died with ..

Sudden paralysis. Throat haemorrhage.

That isn't Maule's curse.

That's the Pyncheon curse.

Greed .. wilful inhuman selfishness.

A combination of high blood-pressure

and thin-veined aristocracy.

They're haunted by conscience, not the

calcified bones of old Matthew Maule.

Oh darling.

Now you're not going to allow

black memories of the past ..

To ruin a future so bright

and shining as ours.

Isn't that a new dress?

Yes .. is it pleasing to you?

As pleasing to me as

it is becoming to you.

We'll keep it for special occasions,

our 25th and 50th anniversaries.

It'll be gone before then. Moths will

get it and it will fall to pieces.

No it won't. No more than that beautiful

warm smile of yours will ever fade.

To that proposition Mademoiselle,

I dedicate myself.

Clifford darling, don't ever grow up.

Pray forgive this interruption ..

Father would be honored by a visit

from you .. he's in the library.

A beautiful day, isn't it.

I had thought so, until a moment ago.

Now isn't that amusing.

I hadn't until a moment ago.

We really make the weather

ourselves, don't we Hepzibah?

Yes, father?

Clifford, there still remains besides

the house, a few government securities.

Very few.

Yes, yes.

However Jaffrey is confident that we

can collect these bonds immediately.

Invest them in something less secure

perhaps, but far more profitable ..

And within the year we would ..

Yes, and within the year, even that last

shred of security will have vanished.

What about your promise to me?

As the eldest son, I have always

recognized your rights.

As your father I must insist that you

refrain from questioning my authority.

I do not refer to your authority

sir .. but to your promise.

Ah .. you run from me in a moment of

weakened decision. I realize that now.

Sir, it is unthinkable ..

That the Pyncheon birth-rite should

be put upon the auction block.

Even Hepzibah knows that.

But she conceals her sympathy

for fear of your displeasure.

That it is untrue!

You dare to call me a liar?

As long as I stay alive, I am the head

of this house, and it shall not be sold!

For the last year your conduct has

brought us nothing but shame.

Disgraceful scenes in public.

You have humiliated me

beyond all endurance.

Now I command you to

leave this house. At once!

You are no longer my son.

I want never again to see your face.

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