The House Of The Seven Gables Page #6

---

Crazy I tell you.

Twenty years in prison have

made him lose his mind.

Maybe.

It happens. I know ..

I was in once for thirty days and

I almost went crazy myself.

Maybe. But this Tribune doesn't lie.

It says here that when he was in prison,

he studied a lot of old documents.

What's all this mystery about Clifford

Pyncheon looking for gold?

Gold, gentlemen, is not unlike

happiness. It is where you find it.

But this paper claims ..

Jeremiah, you're old enough to know

that newspapers say all sort of things.

Aye, but he's crazy I tell you.

Didn't he kill his father?

Did he now?

Well .. the courts say so.

The courts say lots of things, and

sometimes they're right too.

Your health ..

Mr Holgrave.

Why, if it ain't Mr Weed.

Oh Annie, a glass of buttermilk

for the gentleman.

Good evening Phineas, and how is the

honorable Judge Pyncheon this evening?

Honorable, is it?

Merely a figure of speech,

gentlemen. A figure of speech.

If he's got a million, he's

automatically honorable.

He's in excellent health, sir.

Of course he is. As he dines on

the meats of those he cheats.

And the widows and orphans

he turns on the streets.

Judge Pyncheon is most

anxious to see you, Mr Holgrave.

It's a matter of great urgency.

Can it be the good judge is displeased

at the portraits I made of him?

Heavens, no.

Well, can he possibly be wanting

to pay me for my work?

Heavens, no! He never pays.

That's why he's so rich.

And that's why he stays so rich.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, we're

living in an age of miracles.

Come, Mr Weed.

Don't worry, my dear Deacon.

You can leave everything to me.

Oh thank you, thank you so much.

Goodnight.

Yes?

Mr Holgrave.

Well, have him come in.

Good evening.

Evening Holgrave.

You know Deacon Foster?

Oh yes, we meet quite frequently,

don't we Deacon.

Yes, yes, quite frequently.

Well, good evening gentlemen.

Good evening.

Sit down.

To be frank with you, I seek advice.

I find myself deeply concerned

over my brother since his release.

Yes, he has suffered a great deal.

True, but then crime profits no-one.

However, I refer to these disquieting

rumors in the newspapers.

Poor Clifford's search for

treasure? I saw that too.

It's true, isn't it?

I'm afraid it is.

His incarceration has left

his mind unbalanced.

But it's perfectly harmless Judge

Pyncheon. A childish fancy.

Of course, of course.

But tell me.

How does he come to such hallucinations?

From what I gather, he spent his prison

days studying some ancient documents.

Where did he get them?

I don't know, but he's got them.

Old maps, and the original architect's

plans of Seven Gables.

The man is mad I tell you. He should

be committed to an institution.

But why? He's absolutely

harmless, Judge Pyncheon.

All he does is go around tapping

walls and removing a board or two.

Do you know ..

He thinks there's half a million in gold

hidden away in that house someplace.

A half a million ..

Yes, yes.

Very amusing, but be fair Holgrave.

Don't you think he and everyone would

be happier if he were in an institution?

He's happy there. Can you imagine?

He has plans of secret staircases.

He says his ancestors built them to hide

from witch-hunters and Maule's ghost.

Secret staircases, Maule's ghost?

The documents show that?

So he claims. A half a million ..

Good morning ladies.

I wish to see my brother.

He doesn't share your wishes.

You cannot conceal from me matters that

are common knowledge in the village.

I don't know what you mean.

Clifford's insanity.

Such evil gossip can only have been

started by one person .. yourself.

Would you swear this is untrue? That

Clifford is not tearing down the house?

Seeking the money ..

Such ideas are furthest from his mind.

[ Bang! ]

[ Bang! ]

I knew I could rely on Mr Holgrave's

word. Mr Holgrave?

My dear cousin, I fear that

your loyalty to Clifford ..

Has .. overshadowed

your adherence to truth.

You can't endanger the community

by harboring a madman.

Oh well, no matter.

I've already written to the State

Asylum for the Mentally Incompetent.

They can handle Clifford

far more efficiently than I.

Judge Pyncheon!

I must see you .. I must talk to you.

Well get in.

Mr Holgrave.

What cruel jest is this Mr Holgrave?

Well, it was not my intention

to alarm you, Miss Hepzibah.

Just what was your intention?

Well .. just an impulse .. a

momentary lapse of reason.

I merely sought to add realism to ..

Realism? .. For what?

Are you responsible for that

slanderous story in the papers?

Matthew, please tell us what's happened.

Perhaps you have found it amusing to

rekindle the fires of Jaffrey's greed.

Since Clifford's return, you've

been together constantly.

It's a strange way to repay

friendship, Mr Holgrave.

He can explain cousin Hepzibah.

Can't you Matthew?

Unfortunately the explanation

is not mine to give.

Please leave here as soon

as you find new lodgings.

Mr Pyncheon sir, I beg

you to be more explicit.

In a short time, I shall be called

upon to account for this money.

My dear Deacon, I have already told you

that no news can be expected this week.

But it's an investment

of such a large sum.

You have entrusted it

to a Pyncheon, sir.

Morning Mr Fuller. Anything for me?

Must be .. or Ginger never

would have stopped.

Here .. here you are .. yes sir.

Thank you.

Giddy-up Ginger.

Forgive me cousin Hepzibah ..

I'll try not to act silly again.

He knows his presence

is intolerable to us.

Yet a week has passed since I

asked him to seek other lodgings.

But .. why does cousin

Clifford wish him to stay?

Clifford doesn't know anything

about what has happened.

I didn't want to upset him.

Once he's gone .. it will be

easier for you Phoebe, won't it.

Matthew Holgrave has spent

his last night in this house.

When he returns he will find

his possessions on the doorstep.

Cousin Hepzibah, please

don't send him away.

If Matthew leaves,

I must leave with him.

Cousin Hepzibah .. I love him.

We must leave Seven Gables at

once Clifford, before it's too late.

Hepzibah, you're trembling.

I fear for you.

But why?

Don't ask me to tell you

Clifford .. trust me please ..

Take me away Clifford. As far away from

this house we can go. I beseech you.

We can't go just yet Hepzibah.

But why?

I should have told you right

away .. but I'm not free.

My sentence was merely commuted.

Until I can prove I am innocent .. we

cannot marry .. I have no civil rights.

I had hoped, by now ..

Oh it doesn't matter, we'll go anyway.

We must leave this house today darling.

Now, before he ever comes again.

Who?

Jaffrey.

I'm waiting for him to come here again.

No! He's planning to harm you.

I also have plans ..

Vengeance is not a weapon for human

hands. Clifford, you don't understand.

There's Mr Holgrave who lives

here. His name is really ..

Matthew Maule .. I know .. he's a

friend of mine, dearest Hepzibah.

Now let me explain this to you.

Excuse me sir, but the mail has arrived.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes