The Oblong Box

Let go of me!

Let go of me!

Edward!

Oh, my God!

Edward!

Edward.

Go back!

Edward, no!

You leave me no choice. Ruddock.

- Edward!

- Dont do it!

Edward! Please, control yourself.

Down here, on the bed!

Stop!

Get them.

- Lm asking you.

- I dont know.

- Good evening, gentlemen.

- Good evening.

I dont know what you and him are up to,

but youve got to get him out of here.

- Youre being paid.

- And paid well.

Barely well enough.

If the police come, whats the answer?

Youve nothing to fear, Hackett.

Youre running a lodging house

for drunken thieves and whores.

Its that filthy stench.

Whats he doing in there?

- Thats what I want to know.

- Thats enough! About your business!

Anyway, hell be gone soon enough.

The sooner the better, if you ask me.

- Its not ready to be seen as yet.

- But it will be by tonight?

Yes. Have you brought the money?

- Gold?

- Guineas.

But not till your work is done.

When it is,

you can take this back to Africa with you...

...on the same boat that brought you here.

Youll be a rich man, NGalo.

Thats what you want.

Do you think it will work?

When he takes this,

he will sleep as if dead.

Look...

...even if we do get Sir Edward here...

...can he really help him?

I have seen what witchcraft can do.

Believe me, Norton.

You have seen what another man

of my powers has done already.

Have you not?

Yes.

We have knowledge of things

you know nothing of.

Lve been thinking it over, Julian.

And lve decided that I want to

get married at sea on an open boat.

Yes.

In a brilliant scarlet dress to amuse

all the sailors and shock my father.

What? Lm sorry Elizabeth.

I was miles away.

So I noticed.

Back in Africa?

Why do you think that?

I would have thought it was obvious.

Since youve been home

youre a totally different person.

- No, thats nonsense.

- No, it isnt.

Look at you.

Always brooding, heavy-spirited.

Half the time you seem to forget

youre with me and were going to get...

Elizabeth, dear, I am sorry, truly.

What happened out there?

Whats on your mind all the time?

Please tell me.

No. Its not worth your worrying about.

When were married, Julian,

I want to share your life.

Dont lets start out with secrets, please.

Let me start sharing now.

I may have things on my mind,

but that doesnt mean that lve changed.

Then prove it.

I didnt really mean that.

I meant...

...ld like to see you smiling

the way you used to smile.

There!

Yes, its your usual good report, Trench.

- Thorough and precise.

- Lm more than pleased to be back.

- Africa is a heathen place, and no mistake.

- Yes.

Thank you.

Yes, weve had

a distasteful time of it here, too.

Properly handled, your African plantation

could keep you living well...

...to the end of your God-given days.

You and your brother.

We mustnt forget Sir Edward, must we?

Sir Edward wouldnt eat

any of his dinner, sir.

Thank you, Ruddock, lll try later.

How is Sir Edward now?

How did you expect him to be? Better?

I had hoped more normal.

Yes, he did seem to be more normal...

...so we took off the chains.

But the madness only overcame him again.

He tried to break away, to escape.

Ever since then

he seems to have grown steadily worse.

Every man wants to be free.

How can he be free,

looking the way he does?

Dont you understand

his mind is going, too?

Sometimes that sickness strikes him

with such ferocity...

...hes as dangerous as an insane beast.

Perhaps an asylum?

No.

We mustnt even think about that.

I couldnt bear the thought of my brother

screaming his life away...

...in Bedlam with the rest

of those unfortunate creatures.

And surgery is out of the question?

Do you think those carrion doctors

could put his face together again?

Do you think they could even

lay hands on him...

...without wanting to experiment? No.

Ld like to see him.

I dont allow anyone to see him but myself.

- Hes much too dangerous.

- Lm not afraid.

He seemed so pleased

to see me the last time.

Yes, he did seem to be better

for a while after you saw him.

Very well, you may go up.

But please,

dont let him see youre shocked...

...by how much worse he has become.

And dont get too close.

Remember, if the madness

comes over him again...

...your only protection

are the chains on his feet.

- Thank you, lll remember.

- Ruddock.

Take Mr. Trench to see Sir Edward.

- Ld keep my distance, sir.

- Itll be all right, Ruddock.

Sir Edward?

Sir Edward. Its me, Trench.

There isnt much time.

I just want you to know

that lve come back from Africa.

- Have you done what I asked?

- Yes.

When will it be?

In two days. Itll be ready.

You will be well rewarded. Unless you fail.

I must get out of here, Trench.

Lm counting on you. Before its too late.

Its as I feared. Youve upset him.

Lm afraid I cant allow anyone

to see him again ever.

Good night.

Look!

What happened?

Body snatchers, Master Julian.

They got away.

The doctors still require

their warm guinea pigs.

Youre not shocked?

Lts better that they practice their

barbarities on the dead than on the living.

- They pay a handsome price, I suppose.

- Of course.

And for some of our people,

that kind of money is the difference...

...between a full belly and an empty one.

- Youre not shocked?

I can see how important

it is for the poor souls.

Better than a good mark in heaven.

It is for God to judge, Parson, and not you.

Its horrifying, Julian.

Far worse things

are known to man, Elizabeth.

Lm going to put it all out of my mind.

The only thing to think about is us.

- Are we still getting married soon?

- Sooner.

Because Father may succeed

in driving me off to Italy, away from you.

- But I thought we had his blessing.

- That was before.

Before?

Before you returned

from the dark continent.

Before you dismissed most of the servants.

Before the town started to talk.

You mean theyre talking about me?

About the house?

Dont you see what a hermit

youre becoming? Of course they talk.

Wild tales of demons

and ghosties with rattling chains.

But you dont believe

any of that nonsense, do you?

Theres nothing to believe, is there?

- What do you think?

- I think theyre all madmen, fools.

Good.

For the master.

- From Mistress Elizabeth, Master.

- Thank you, Ruddock.

Have you taken up Sir Edwards dinner yet?

No, sir, lll take it up right away.

"Dearest Julian, I am no longer able to fight

my father's wishes to send me to Italy."

"He is disturbed by your strange behavior..."

"...and wants to be sure

that I do not make a mistake."

"You must know that it is not my wish

to leave you and end our betrothal."

Master Julian!

Sir! Lts Sir Edward!

What is it, Ruddock?

Youd better come, Sir.

Edward, why did they have to take you?

Can your soul ever forgive mine?

Ruddock...

...bring Trench to me.

And no one else is to know.

Very well, Sir.

Theres Trench now.

- My brother Edward has died.

- Lm so sorry to hear that.

Theres no need for sorrow.

In his case oblivion was a merciful release.

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