Winchester Page #2

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- Sir.

- Good, thank you.

(MUMBLING)

Take it nice and easy.

(DEEP BREATH)

There.

Henry.

Stop it.

MARION:
Henry, stop that!

Henry. Henry! Just...

Henry, you must be very excited

to spend some time

in your great aunt's house.

We're here because Father died.

Well, I am very sorry

for your loss, young man.

- I'm not.

- Henry!

It's my fault.

I didn't mean to pry.

Of course, you did.

That's why you're here.

Yes. Suppose so.

I recently lost someone myself.

So if you feel like

discussing anything,

I might be able

to provide some assistance

to yourself or young Henry here.

I imagine you must be

very good at your job

if Aunt Sarah chose you

to be her assessor.

I had no idea

she chose me herself.

I'm just hoping I can help.

If you want to help, Doctor,

you can give my aunt

a clean bill of health

and be on your way.

Well, I have a duty

to my profession

and an obligation

to my employers.

Aunt Sarah is your employer.

It is still half her company.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

- Madam.

- Good evening, Madam.

Good evening, Madam.

(BELL CHIMING)

Dr. Price.

Mrs. Winchester, it's a

pleasure to finally meet you.

The pleasure is due

to the lawyers

of the Winchester

Repeating Arms Company.

Yes.

I suppose you're right.

I hope everything has been

to your satisfaction so far?

I cannot fault the hospitality.

It's quite a special house,

is it not?

Now that, ma'am,

is a fact beyond dispute.

Thank you.

I understand the Winchester

is still considered

the superior rifle

on the market, ma'am.

Superior?

Superior at what?

Accuracy, range, stopping power.

Killing.

Indiscriminate killing.

Very superior.

You feel responsible for

the misuse of your product?

If a weapon works as intended,

one can hardly call it a misuse.

MARION:
Well, it can

be used for good or bad,

depending on the person

wielding it.

Yes.

Then again, perhaps roller skates

are a less dangerous endeavor.

MARION:

The company is expanding,

looking for other opportunities.

I understand that was at

your behest, Mrs. Winchester?

MARION:
It was.

To the displeasure of the board.

It appears that strapping

wheels to one's feet

can also be a perilous endeavor.

Hear, hear.

(HAMMERING AND SAWING)

RUBY:
Tell me the story

about the farmer

- who owned the old mule.

- ERIC:
No.

RUBY:

I always liked that story.

A delusional disorder.

- ERIC:
Yes.

- RUBY:
That's what you called it.

ERIC:
Yes.

RUBY:

I don't want to talk anymore.

I need you to believe me.

ERIC:
I want to be with you, Ruby.

Together forever.

(GUNSHOT)

(BELL TOLLING)

(ECHOING LAUGH)

Hello?

(DISTORTED INHALE)

Hello?

(SOFT THUD)

(THUD)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

(DOOR CREAKS)

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

(SQUEAKING)

- (SCREAMS)

- (GROWLS)

Christ!

(DOOR SLAMS)

(LAUGHS)

You've poisoned your mind, Eric.

You've poisoned your mind.

I need some air.

(EXHALES)

(CREAKING)

(SQUEAKS)

(CREAKING)

(BREATH TREMBLING)

(SKATE ROLLING)

(EXHALES)

(SIGHS)

Deja vu.

(MAN LAUGHS)

(WORKER TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

(SAWING)

(HAMMERING)

(WORKERS TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Hey!

Hey!

Move, hey! Move! Move!

- (THUDS)

- (GROANS)

I see you.

Oh, Henry! Darling!

What's happening

to you, sweetheart?

Thank you.

MARIO:
Darling,

what's happening to you?

ERIC:
Mrs. Winchester,

I really must have

your full attention.

Oh, you have it, Dr. Price.

Yes, but perhaps you would

be more comfortable if...

Last night was quite

a traumatic event.

I'm grateful for your actions.

I fear you may have me at a...

An emotional disadvantage today.

Yes, I understand.

I don't mean to pry,

but has Master Henry

been prone to sleepwalking

in the past?

No.

But you may know, he did witness

the death of his father.

Yes.

Well, this is the first

in a series of sessions

I wish to conduct.

And I can assure you that

today will be quite benign.

No, no, no. Let's just

get straight to it, Doctor.

You are here to assess

my erratic behavior,

are you not?

Well, erratic behavior

is not the phrase

that I would've chosen, but...

- Now, I'll speak with you truthfully.

- Please.

But you will do me

the same courtesy.

Of course.

Do you suffer

from soldier's syndrome?

I'm sorry?

Are you an abuser of medication?

Mrs. Winchester, I think it's

best if I ask the questions.

Your wife, did she believe

you are a good therapist?

We're not here

to discuss my wife.

Your wife Ruby?

No, we are not.

And I would appreciate

your honesty.

Are you an abuser of medication?

No, I'm not.

- So...

- I will share a fact with you,

which you may find questionable.

But I assure you, it is a fact.

Please.

I am cursed.

Cursed, how?

Have you read my papers?

- Of course, I have.

- And what did they say?

Well, among many things,

they say that this is

the house that spirits built.

See, profiting from such

a thing as violence and death,

that is a wickedness that

follows you like a shadow.

Yes, we might also call

those shadows "guilt."

But tell me, how do these

shadows follow you?

I may be getting old,

Dr. Price,

but I assure you,

I have not lost my senses.

I know the difference

between illusion and reality.

I see.

Your mind rules your body.

The mind

can be incredibly creative.

But it can also,

at times, fail us.

My mind has never failed me.

What we see, taste, and touch

are interpreted and processed

to give us our truth.

And that truth can in turn

be an illusion,

created, distorted, by grief.

Do you believe in ghosts,

Dr. Price?

No, ma'am. Why would I?

Offering my staff that bill

would be greatly appreciated.

Even the nickel inside the bill

would be a respectable start.

Really! Silly illusions?

Do you take me for a fool?

No, ma'am. I do not.

No more diversions from reality.

No more parlor tricks.

And your medication

will have to be confiscated.

Mrs. Winchester, I'm sorry, but I

must insist, I'm not a child...

- This is my home, Dr. Price.

- And I will not be...

You will obey my rules.

If you want me to open up

this house for you,

you need clarity.

Do you have another

question for me?

Yes, ma'am.

Is it really necessary

to confine me to quarters?

That is Madam's wish, sir.

Hmm.

And the condition

of Master Henry?

He too is confined to quarters.

And Mrs. Marriott

has not left his side.

(BANGS)

Damn it!

"Sir, the members of the board

eagerly await your evaluation.

"I trust you will make

an accurate assessment.

"Regards, Arthur C. Gates,

Chief Legal Officer."

ERIC:
Sarah Winchester's

psychological assessment

and mental status examination.

Dr. Eric A. Price,

April 16, 1906.

Appearance, normal.

Hygiene, physical

characteristics, all normal.

Patient struggles with the

loss of her husband and child.

Her behavior is at times

slightly aggressive.

Perception,

visual hallucinations

that patient often refers to

as shadows or ghosts.

I feel them, their presence.

Go on.

I feel their presence,

their energy.

Their unfinished business

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