The Sinister Monk

---

1

How long does it take for that idiot?

- Ronny!

Well?

- He can't hold out much longer.

And don't you think your rightful place

is at your father's side?

It was his wish to talk to the notary.

My daughter Patricia keeps Darkwood Hall,

so her girls' boarding school...

can continue. The remainder

of my property and my revenues,

I bequeath to my beloved granddaughter,

Gwendolin Francis Gilmore.

Let's go!

Patricia.

Ronny.

William.

Where's Richard?

- Something surely held him up.

Otherwise he'd never have missed

his father's death.

Since no will and testament has been

found as yet, the law states clearly...

that the inheritance shall now be divided

fairly and equally among his next of kin.

You are to appear before the official

bureau of estates and inheritances...

on the 20th of this month,

bearing certificates of your identity.

You'll see the judge at the Town Hall

in Greensmothing at 10 o'clock.

You will send these forms to us as soon

as you have filled them out. Good day.

Good day.

- Good day.

So, that's how it is. If you want

Darkwood Hall for your boarding school,

then I'll content myself with Sea House

and the 3 buildings located in London.

Since there isn't any will, we'll wait!

- Just a minute!

Where did you get the idea

that there was no will?

Here!

This is only a photo-stat, of course.

I did it myself, actually.

Quite good, don't you think?

The original is locked up in my safe.

The will was in the notary's car.

It was destroyed!

No, no! Otherwise, how did I get it?

I received it in an anonymous letter.

You think I believe that?

- Can you prove the contrary?

What does it say? Let me see!

- Aside from Darkwood Hall,

everything else - all property,

investments, as both real and on paper,

in other words, our father's entire

fortune of nearly 4 million pounds -

is to go to Lord Gilmore's

beloved granddaughter.

Do you mean Gwendolin?

- Yes. Gwendolin!

The daughter of our brother, Reginald,

who's now residing in jail.

Does Gwendolin know?

- No. And she won't find out...

if you keep quiet and if I destroy

the will and the copy I have.

Well, destroy it then!

- I haven't finished what I had to say:

Read that carefully.

If I do destroy the will,

each one of us will inherit a third.

Since Reginald, as a murderer...

and convict is, alas, disqualified.

I'd like something more for my trouble.

You'll get 10% of your possessions.

The rest you'll give to me,

as your brother and lawyer.

And you will agree to give me

power of attorney over the entire estate.

What I do with the money is my concern.

What do you say? Will you all sign that?

And what if we refuse?

- In that case, I'll speak to Gwendolin.

Oh yes? Then what do you get out of it?

- Just as little as we will.

That's what you think.

If you refuse, I have an alternate plan.

I was thinking of you. Will you sign it?

- That's a lot to ask all of a sudden!

We've got to think about it.

Give us a little more time.

Yes, it's only fair!

- Sure. Just as you like.

And we'll meet again in a week.

I would say, right here.

You are very sure of yourself.

Aren't you, Richard?

I would say...

yes!

Dirty thief!

- He's mad! Completely insane!

If he doesn't destroy that will...

- Then he'll try to blackmail Gwendolin!

Yes. That's what he'll do.

That's got to be what he's planning.

- And what if she doesn't give in?

Don't be nave, Ronny. Your uncle has

unusual ways of persuasion.

If Gwendolin doesn't want to lose

everything, she'll be satisfied with less.

There's one way out of this, however.

- Either the will disappears,

or Gwendolin does.

You've got to invite her here!

Yes, I'll do that. But to protect her.

- From whom?

From Richard. From you.

And... from my own son.

But why, Mama?

Just 'cause I want to marry her?

Ronny!

- If it's Gwendolin who gets the money.

After the marriage, you'll persuade her

to sign it over to you. Is that right?

That's right, Uncle.

I'm going now. But I'll be back soon.

With my beloved brother, Richard.

Excuse me.

Here she comes!

Thank you, girls!

And I hope you all come back next month...

with the same smiles on your faces,

ready to go back to work.

But for now go home and relax.

I want you to have a wonderful vacation!

Goodbye Emily, Jean, Carol!

Have a good time.

And give my regards to your parents.

What's going on here?

- The girls are going on vacation.

All the girls?

- No, about 12 of them are staying.

Either they've no-one to go to,

or their parents are abroad. Excuse me.

Do you work here at the boarding school?

- Yes, Sir. I'm sort of the house butler.

My name's Smitty, if I may be so bold

as to mention it.

Listen. A girl will be arriving

Here shortly. A certain Gwendolin.

She's my niece. You let me know

The second that she arrives.

Here's my card.

My address is on the back.

Certainly, Sir.

Have you worked here very long?

- No, I've been here for 12 weeks.

I haven't been here in nearly 11 years.

I don't remember it very well.

This is the park gate.

- Ah!

Hello, Aunt Patty!

Gwendolin. I'm so glad you're here.

- You haven't changed one bit, Aunt Patty.

It comes from living with youth.

Take Gwendolin's luggage to her room!

How was your trip?

- Good, the countryside was beautiful!

It seemed to take no time at all to get

here from London. I usually drive myself,

but with Mr. Smith, I wasn't afraid!

- Thank you, My Lady.

Thanks for inviting me. Uncle Richard

asked me to stay with him, too.

But I decided I'd rather be here.

- I'm happy you did, Gwendolin!

But you let me help with the housework?

- Certainly! But the main thing...

is for you to feel at home.

- Thank you.

That's my niece Gwendolin. She's my guest

but wants to help with the housework.

Later on you'll get to know each other.

- How do you do? - Hello!

Would you show me

where my room is, now?

Oh, excuse me, Lady Patricia.

Hello.

I was just going to get some food

for my pigeons out of the garage.

This is Mr. Short. He rents some rooms up

in the top of the tower. He's an artist.

You're too kind. But you must excuse me.

My little pigeons are getting impatient.

So she's going to clean the house for us.

- She looks very nice to me,

and very pretty.

- She's the daughter of a convict!

Well, how do you know that?

- I know it, that's all.

You can't know how wonderful it is to look

out of my window and see trees and grass.

That's your room. The 2nd door.

- How's Uncle William and Uncle Richard?

Oh, they're quite well.

Well, now who is that?

- Your cousin Ronny.

I'm delighted, Cousin! Delighted and

enchanted by so much charm and beauty.

And so on, and so on!

I remember you when you were that high.

Things have changed.

For us both.

Come on. Here's your room.

I hope you like it.

Ronny!

I must speak to you!

I know you, Ronny.

And I know what you're up to!

You feel sorry for her, you mean?

I do, too. How solid do you think this is?

Ronny!

Don't think you can get away with it.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes