The Skeleton Key Page #2

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You keep their picture?

Yes. I like to pay my respects

to the memories of this house.

All right. Come along now.

This is the dining room.

We only use about half of the rooms.

The others are for Ben's antique business.

What he couldn't sell, we stored here.

Except for the attic.

That has crystal and china.

And I keep a very close account

on that, just so as you know.

There are more than 30 rooms in all.

In the old days, they made

a separate key for each room.

For the owner, they made a skeleton key.

This will open every door.

This one is yours.

I have mine.

Now, the pantry's right out here.

You know, we may have to ask you

to go into town now and then.

Was there a mirror here once?

I noticed in the bathrooms also

there are no mirrors.

Child, when you get as worn-out

and wrinkled as we are...

you don't need any reminding.

If you want a small one

for your own purposes...

that's fine with me.

- What'd you do with them?

- Put them away.

VlOLET:
The boy tells me you don't smoke.

I do smoke. I smoke a lot

and I enjoy it very much.

I trust that won't be an issue.

It won't be.

Good. Then for the most part

just realize that...

I'll live here as if you're not in residence.

After all, we're not kin.

Are your parents still alive?

My mom left when I was little. My

dad raised me and he died last year.

Oh, my. So you cared for him as well?

I would have.

I just thought I had more time.

Yeah.

You think too much about the time

you have left...

you don't spend it living.

be good to my husband.

be good to his house.

Remedies at 9:
00.

One, two, three.

You don't see gardens like this

back in New Jersey, I expect.

Actually, it's the Garden State.

[Laughing] I doubt that very much.

Nothing more glorious than a garden.

Gone every winter, back every spring.

You religious at all?

I try to keep an open mind.

That's good. That's very good.

Where are my trilliums?

Oh, fiddlesticks. do me a blessing, child.

Will you run up to the attic for me?

I have some seed packets in a box

right next to the stairs.

[Stairs creaking]

[Noisy clanking]

[door creaking]

What took you?

I'm sorry.

I thought the key opens everything.

The key? What key?

The key you gave me for the house.

There's a door in the attic

it doesn't work for.

Oh, no, the attic, it's never opened that.

- I got my dixie-Johns.

- Why not?

- What's in there?

- I have no idea.

It's been shut ever since we moved in.

I have to get these in the ground,

because there's rain coming.

Mrs. devereaux...

Ben was in the attic, wasn't he,

when he had his stroke?

What was he doing in there?

You'll have to ask him, child.

be a dear and go see to him, won't you?

I wonder if he wouldn't like some iced tea.

[Soulful instrumental jazz music]

[Water running]

[Thunder rumbling]

[Loud noise]

[Glass shattering]

[Tin roof rattling]

His door was locked.

Ben!

Ben!

Ben!

Stop right there, Ben! don't move!

Stop!

Ben!

Mrs. devereaux!

Ben!

Ben, what are you doing? It's me!

[Ben screaming]

Mother of mercy, what's he done?

He got out of the window. I thought

you said he was bedridden.

VlOLET:
He's having spasms.

- didn't you give him his remedies?

- Yes.

did you make sure he drank them down?

I thought so.

- Ben, what'd they make you do?

- His door was locked.

Just go get the wheelchair.

We've gotta get him out of this.

What about a doctor?

In the morning,

just get that wheelchair now.

VlOLET:
Caroline!

VlOLET:
Caroline!

What in damnation took you so long?

I came as fast as I could.

We're just gonna have to double his

remedies. That's all I can think of.

Caroline, help me here. Help me get him.

Come on. That's it.

Where did you think you were going?

You're here two days and

he already tried to kill himself.

Must have some kind of

bedside manner, huh?

One of my many charms.

So, what exactly happened?

I came to update her will...

she's up with the doc, says he fell?

He did fall.

Like what, from his wheelchair?

You cannot be serious. From

up there? He fell from up there?

How? He can't even walk.

Please don't tell me you're quitting.

I have to start over again.

Will you shut the door?

I want to show you something.

You know what my mama used to say?

If a lady invites you into her room,

she probably isn't much of a lady.

Homespun Southern wisdom grows

on trees around here, doesn't it?

I found this in Ben's room...

Iast night.

LUKE:
Found what? His laundry?

No, it had a...

CAROLlNE:
There was...

LUKE:
Had a what?

There was a... It had a...

Forget it.

I thought it...

I don't know what I thought.

I admire you.

You know, what you do.

Hell, I wouldn't be able

to take care of my own parents.

You'd regret it.

CAROLlNE:
I quit college to help out

with some friends' bands.

Out all night, always on the road.

My father thought

I was throwing my life away.

So we didn't talk, didn't visit.

Stubborn and proud,

and that's how we left it.

You mean...

Yeah.

He was gone before

I even knew he was sick.

I guess he wanted to spare me from all this.

Is that so wrong?

No one should have to die alone.

So tell me what you were gonna tell me.

About Ben.

do you ever feel like...

he's asking you for help?

- Asking me?

- With a look or...

a touch.

VlOLET:
Mr. Marshall?

Where in damnation is that boy? Caroline...

have you seen Mr...

Well...

I see the children are getting acquainted.

Now, Violet...

you know you're the only woman in my life.

I know no such things,

and remove your perspirations.

The doctor has departed, so I'm ready...

to discuss estate matters,

if you have finished...

soliciting your new business.

All right.

Whenever you get the time.

VlOLET:
Caroline?

I'm making some sweet tea.

Are you interested?

Caroline?

"Sacrifice."

Are you in the house?

Caroline?

You're forgetful, child.

[Voice on record player] It is time, Lord.

From the dry dust...

out of these chains...

from the devil's house.

It is time, Lord...

to take me...

from the dry dust,

break me from these chains.

Bring me from the devil's house.

Take me out of darkness.

Walk me out of blindness.

Lift me out of sadness.

Save me from my damned-ness.

Please, Lord.

It is time, Lord.

Take me from the dry dust. Break me...

out of these chains.

Bring me from the devil's house.

Take me out of-

Just a local band.

How about you buy me a drink?

[Upbeat R&b music]

Whatever it is, it's not your average attic.

She says it's been locked up

ever since they first moved in.

You found yourself a hoodoo room.

- A what?

- Hoodoo. You know what hoodoo is?

It's like voodoo, right?

Wrong. Voodoo's a religion.

Slaves brought it to Haiti from Africa.

You worship God, heaven and hell.

- How's hoodoo different?

- It's magic.

American folk magic.

God doesn't have much to do with it.

- Magic?

- Yeah.

It's part African, part European,

part Native American.

And New Orleans is its home.

It started here.

My Aunt Nola's into it.

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