The Tomb of Ligeia Page #3

A colleague of mine in Switzerland,

a charlatan really, one Franz Mesmer,

claims to have brought to ground some subtle,

invisible fluid with miraculous healing powers.

M oo o c, Doco,

o oo c o c o

q o o

Do o o o

No

ut I knew an interested disciple...

...one who sought relief from an incurable ill.

- Were they cured?

- I say, were they cured?

- I think not.

You don't seem certain.

At any rate, hypnotism's effect on memory

interests me more than its curative powers.

Through it,

one is able to call to mind things long forgotten...

...or to forget things... best not called to mind.

And might we see a demonstration?

I can't effect the sale of the abbey

until something more is done.

You see, legally, Ligeia is still alive,

still your wife.

I await your pleasure, sir.

Christopher, I must talk to you. Since last night,

until you arrived, I had not seen Verden.

- And something else, something horrible.

- Rowena.

We mustn't keep our guests waiting.

(doctor) This is a surprise.

Is Lady Rowena going to assist you?

Would you mind, my dear, assisting me?

- No.

- Sit down.

Ko c, o o co o

M oo, ooo o co oo

- ut...

- Please.

Doctor.

Christopher.

No, Roo, oo g

What do you remember of your mother?

Well, nothing really, other than portraits.

She died when I was three.

No, oo

(Roa sprs) oo o g

You had but to come to me. I never left my room.

Rowena...

...you must trust me.

Give over your will to mine.

No o coo o o

Give over your will to mine.

Your hands are melting into mine.

Soon, very soon,

they will be one with mine.

You will try, but you will not be able to...

You will try soon... You will try soon...

You will try now, but you will not,

you cannot move them.

Close your eyes.

Rowena...

- (drowsihy) Yes?

- You may let loose of my hands now.

Rowena, you wish to let loose of my hands now,

oco o o oo,

o o o, o o g

So young.

All brightness,

and butterflies are a wonder to behold.

- See them? See them?

- Yes.

There is one resting on a rosebush,

one whose wings you can almost touch.

Reach out, Rowena. Touch those wings.

You can almost... No, it flew away.

No o, Roo

There is no need to weep.

Your mother is coming.

Can you see her?

What is she doing? What does your mother

usually do when you are about to cry, Rowena?

She sings to me.

She sings to you.

What does she sing, Rowena? Sing it for us.

(chnihdishn) I have a bonnet trimmed with blue

Do you wear it? Yes, I do

I will wear it when I can

Going to the ball with my young man

I have a bonnet trimmed with blue

Do you wear it? Yes, I do

I will...

What a...?

Where...?

(dEEphy) Who knoweth the mysteries of the will?

The will herein lieth which dieth not.

M ooo o oo ooo o go

o o oo ooo,

o o o o o oo o

- I will always be your wife.

- (moarns)

Kenrick, the lights

I'm so...

Oh, I'm so sleepy.

She'll rest more easily now.

- I confess, I am confounded by what I've seen.

- Yes.

- Should you require further assistance...

- Thank you, Doctor.

- Good night.

- Good night.

Don't go. Please, don't leave me tonight.

- You need rest.

- ut there are things I must ask you.

- Tell you.

- Hush, my dear. Tomorrow will be soon enough.

- I'll be in my room.

- ut, Verden, I...

Good night, my dear. Good night.

(scrEams)

(cat yowhs)

(cat yowhs vicioushy)

(cat yowhs)

(cat yowhs)

(cat yowhs)

(scrEams)

(gasps) I...

Some things appeared in my room:

a dead fox, a saucer of milk... Verden?

- Yes?

- Where have you been?

Alone.

- I was alone.

- ut where?

Walking.

I woke, dressed and...

...walked. I was resting.

Verden, for whom...?

Why have you got that food?

- Why?

- (KErnrick) Sir...

og oo

Ko c, c o ox o o ooo

- I, sir?

- Yes. I seem to have found it outside my room.

- Well?

- Perhaps one of the maids may have mislaid it.

One of the maids? Yes, well... look into it.

Yes, sir.

Oh, and...

Ko c, o o Roo o o oo

...some things in her room. Have them removed.

o o o, oo

o o o, o

M, oo o o o oo o

I shan't be able to show you

what disturbed me. Perhaps you could show me.

I'm truly sorry, ma'am.

I sleep alone,

I eat alone.

And that's as it should be.

After all, I'm not his wife. Am I?

It's a... a legal technicality.

Is it now? Along with the fox,

the food, the saucer of milk,

my hairbrush filled with black hair, with hers.

- Are they just legal technicalities as well?

- ut you said that these objects disappeared.

Someone else besides myself was there.

Did you imagine her words on my lips last night?

Woo o oo oo ooo

No

That woman is alive. There.

From somewhere in the abbey,

she comes to destroy me.

Somewhere in the abbey, her abbey,

she's alive, and with her husband.

Let's walk for a bit, my dear.

M o o o o

Don't ask for explanations.

We must be in a position to demand them.

y tonight, we will be.

Promise.

M:

Is there something else I can fetch you, ma'am?

- Just my husband, Kenrick.

- (door chosEs)

- I'm sorry to come upon you unannounced.

- You always did stand on ceremony.

Yes. Yes, quite.

M:

Oh, don't leave us, please.

- Kenrick...

- Sir?

Where is your master?

As I've told Lady Rowena,

he's working over some ancient treasure.

- In his study? Splendid. Then send for him.

- He's not there, sir.

Where else might he work?

- I say, where else might he work?

- I can't quite say, sir.

You can't say or you won't say. Which is it?

No, Go o,

lf, Kenrick, you are unsure

of your master's whereabouts,

o o c o o o qo o

Yo,

Where is Ligeia?

I'd have thought the answer an obvious one.

She's lying beneath a white stone

and a carpet of pretty, red flowers.

- Isn't that the case, Kenrick?

- Of course, sir. It was only that... that...

- Yes?

- It was such a strange question to ask.

Oh, quite.

Yes, quite.

Why do you suppose I should ask that question?

- I... I...

- Go on, man, speak up

Perhaps...

Po o o go

o oo o o o g co

Perhaps she prefers the company of Verden

to the dubious comforts of her coffin.

Or perhaps... Look at me

Po o oo o oo

No No,

No Po o o o oo

o go go o oo

Please, sir, no more. Please.

I've no wish to torment you. Produce

your master or point the way for me to find him.

Give me leave, sir. You must give me leave.

Go to your room. Lock the door.

Do not leave until I return.

- ut if Verden comes...

- I can't promise all will be well.

ut it will be done with. Soon.

(mEtahhic scrapirng)

- (ChnristophnEr) Have you another spade?

- (marn) Yes, sir.

M:

(gasps)

(maid srnEEzEs)

Oh, excuse me, ma'am. These want water.

I'll take them. Thank you.

- Anything else, ma'am?

- No. No. Thank you.

Night, ma'am.

(bird cahhs)

(thnurndEr rumbhEs)

(scratchnirng)

(cat mEows)

(cat yowhs vicioushy)

(sihErncE)

(cat mEows)

(yowhs)

(cat yowhs)

- (ChnristophnEr) That'll do.

- (marn) Right, sir.

You've earned your ale tonight.

(cat yowhs)

(gasps)

(scrEams)

It's wax

(KErnrick) You must hurry, sir.

He's beyond my help now.

Verden?

Verden?

(sobs)

(yEhhs)

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